Medical privacy vs family safety: Teen's story changes UK healthcare talks
A medical privacy case about a teen girl leads to nationwide healthcare policy discussions. NHS trusts now review their cross-border communication rules after a tragic outcome last year
About 18 months ago a medical-privacy decision sparked nation-wide discussions after a teen visit to her GP. Isobelle Phipps a 17-year-old student at Hartpury College shared her end-of-life plans with her doctor but her parents werent informed
The health-care system had some gaps in itʼs processes: the GP made a crisis team referral but due to cross-border issues between Gloucestershire and Berkshire hospitals the help didnt reach Isobelle (who everyone knew as Issy). The next day she passed away at her Cookham home while her family was out
Sarah Renton Isobelles mother works as a nurse and speaks about medical guidelines: “As a nurse I feel there was an absolute lack of duty of care shown to Issy; Iʼve spoken to a lot of GPs since and theyʼve not met another GP that wouldnt call the parents“
I do wonder if part of it was a whim because there was a katsu chicken curry on the side which was her favourite meal; it was like sheʼd got it out of the fridge to heat up and then she just thought ʼNoʼ
The local NHS trusts made some changes: they fixed their cross-border communication rules and put new processes in place. The story touched many people including the Princess of Wales who met with Ms Renton at Maidenhead Rugby Club (where Isobelle started playing at age 4) and later wore memorial earrings made by Isobelles niece on World Mental Health Day
