At the inquest into the death of Toby Hudson Darragh Coffey, instructed via the AvMA pro bono service, represented his family.

Toby, aged nineteen, was unable to contact his GP surgery due to phone problems after suffering from a persistent cough and sore throat. It later transpired his GP registration had moved to his university so he was unable to book an appointment there. Instead, he went to an NHS walk-in centre where he was diagnosed with tonsilitis and prescribed penicillin antibiotics. His condition deteriorated and an ambulance was called the following day. En route to the hospital multiple resuscitation attempts were made and back-up was called, although sent to his home address rather than the location of the ambulance. Toby died of organ failure shortly after arriving at the hospital.

The Coroner found that medical issues raised at the inquest did not cause or contribute to his death and expressed her condolences to his family for this “extremely tragic and rare event”.

Featured in the media: