Health secretary Neil Gray asked to meet mum of Johnstone teen who died of epilepsy
Lucy Grant's family begged for her to see a specialist for months as her seizures became more severe.
The health secretary Neil Gray is facing questions as to why a teenage girl from Johnstone who died from an epileptic seizure struggled to see a doctor.
Lucy Grant's family begged for her to see a neurologist for months before she died in April this year because her seizures were getting more severe.
"I can't bring her back"
She was diagnosed with the condition last year just days after 16th birthday meaning doctors in Glasgow were treating her as an adult rather than a child.
Her mum Lynette Anderson believes she would have seen a specialist within ten days if she was still 15 when she got the news.
She told Greatest Hits Radio: "I've not had a proper night's sleep since we lost Lucy.
"I'm mentally and physically drained while still trying to be a mum, working full time and paying bills.
"I can't bring her back but what I can do is fight to make sure everyone under the age of 18 is treated as a child by the NHS rather than an adult"
On the morning Lucy was discovered by her step dad, Stuart, she lay on her bedroom floor for nine and a half hours because the police and ambulance service couldn't agree whose responsibility it was to take her body away.
A senior police officer was eventually called and ordered a private ambulance.
"If Lucy was a criminal, she wouldn't have been placed in an adult prison"
Lynette added: "I told the officer this is why she is dead because nobody could agree whether she was a child or an adult and he got upset.
"If Lucy was a criminal, she wouldn't have been placed in an adult prison, she'd be in a juvenile detention centre."
Lynette wants to sit-down with the health secretary Neil Gray to call for 16 and 17 year-olds to be treated by doctors as a child and is starting a campaign called "Lucy's Law".
Response
We asked to interview Neil Gray about Lucy's case but a spokesperson declined our request for an interview.
Instead, they gave us this statement: “We are very sorry to hear about Lucy’s experience, and our deepest sympathies are with her family at this terribly sad time.
“While we cannot comment on an individual case, should Ms Anderson and her family wish to have the matter further investigated, we would encourage her to reach out to her local health board.”
A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the family of Lucy Grant, and once again to apologise for the distress they have experienced.
“Lucy had been seen by our specialist Neurology team, who remained in contact with her through her family and GP to monitor and obtain further information about her condition, and further appointments had been made for her.”
“Within NHSGGC, a new referral for a patient aged 16 years or older is medically treated as an adult.
“We would encourage the family to get in touch if they would like to discuss any elements of Lucy’s care.”