Hayley Gascoigne Inquest

Nick Gray, head of the clinical negligence team at Williamsons Solicitors, said:

Following Hayley Gascoigne being taken ill at court it is clear to me that a series of avoidable errors contributed to her death. It is reassuring to get confirmation, after a detailed investigation, that Hayley would have had a very good chance of survival with correct and prompt treatment.

The inquest verdict confirms Terry and Kate Gascoigne’s view that their daughter was badly let down by the people who should have been looking after her, and that an unacceptable amount of time passed before serious attempts were made to revive her.

Also, we find it extraordinary that, according to the conclusions of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, there was no public access defibrillator in the building at the time. These are a proven lifesaver and you would have thought a court, of all places, would have one.

If available, urgent treatment could then have started before the rapid response paramedic arrived and unfortunately he then exacerbated the situation by his failure to carry out basic life support in a timely manner.

Our thoughts must be with Terry and Kate Gascoigne and their four grandchildren for whom the consequences of these failings will be lifelong.