Corby MP ‘determined’ to support mother of man who died after ambulance service’s response was ‘not up to standards’
Corby and East Northants MP Lee Barron met the mother of Peter Hynd last week to discuss the death of her son, and the measures that need to be taken to ensure it never happens again.
Leigh Mcgivern has been campaigning for improved standards with regards to the ambulance service’s response, which resulted in tragic the death of her son Peter on August 9, 2023.
Her campaign to heighten accountability, and ultimately prevent avoidable deaths, has amassed more than 1,200 signatures as of this morning (June 10).
MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire Lee Barron said: “I met with Leigh Mcgivern last Thursday.
“It is clear to me that she is determined to make sure no one goes through what Peter and his family have gone through, and I am determined to support her.
“To me, the next step is making sure that the professional regulators are reformed and working correctly in the public interest, and I will do what I can to make sure this happens.
“We will be raising the campaign with ministers and asking parliamentary questions to make the changes needed so that Leigh and her family can get the justice they deserve.”
Leigh set up a petition calling for changes to East Midlands Ambulance Service’s (EMAS) response to Peter’s condition as, unlike paramedics, ambulance technicians are not legally required to register with the Health Practice Associates Council.
Peter, 31, reported chest pains to EMAS on August 8, 2023. There, EMAS staff conducted an electrocardiogram to measures the heart’s electrical activity and check for any problems, which read close to the 1mm threshold that can indicate a significant abnormality in the heart's electrical activity.
Staff, who Peter’s family had believed to be paramedics but were in fact technicians, recorded a heart rate of 110bpm, which was high, but not thought to be an issue as Peter had expressed signs of anxiety.
The lead technician suggested he go in the car with his dad, while the other attending technician on the scene was reluctant to allow it. The inquest into his death heard that the technician ‘did not speak up enough’, and Peter Hynd on his way to he hospital instead opted to return home, where he would be found unresponsive the morning after.
Leigh’s petition can be found online here.