Damian Holland, the former district Crown prosecutor for Luton and Bedfordshire, died in his bed at home in Chorley, Lancashire of Covid-19, just over a week ago. He was 56.
His sister, Caroline Heaton, brother, Gregory Holland, and cousin, Chris Hughes, told me about the events leading up to his death. They believe he was let down by the NHS he revered, and in particular the NHS 111 gateway service to hospital.
The story they tell of Damian’s final two weeks is upsetting and troubling. This is what happened:
On 14 April, Damian went into isolation, having displayed Covid-19 symptoms, along with his partner Shirley Harwood, who works at a care home and also had symptoms. Over the course of a week, his condition worsened and on the morning of 21 April, he rang 111 for the first time. He was instructed by 111 to continue his self-isolation, take up to eight paracetamol tablets per day and drink plenty of fluids.
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