Family reject apology from NHS Board - ‘We will fight for justice for our beloved Russell’

A devastated family have rejected an apology from an NHS Board over the loss of their beloved son, brother and fiancé, claiming the fact he was not listened to or taken seriously by medics led to his death.

Russell McLuckie was only 28 when he died from multi-organ failure through cardiac arrest as a result of sepsis, after spending almost three weeks in Forth Valley Royal Hospital. He was initially admitted with severe colitis and passed away on October 17, 2021.

Questions are now being asked of NHS Forth Valley over the standard of care Russell – from Denny, near Falkirk - received, with independent medical evidence raising serious concerns over alleged delays and failures to adhere to acceptable standards. The hospital has apologised for failing to recognise his symptoms of sepsis.

Russell’s family – mother Anne, father William, brother Ryan and fiancé Natasha Schieritz - have also said the care he received while in the hospital will “haunt us for the rest of our lives”.

“Russell was a ray of sunshine, such a lovely guy, and we had to watch him die before our eyes. We will have to live with that,” says Anne.

“It was Hell on Earth for Russell in there. He was not listened to, he wasn’t taken seriously and he wasn’t believed. He was judged for being a young, fit man, who they didn’t believe was even ill.

“Russell had the bluest eyes you’ve ever seen, they would stop people in their tracks, and I had to stand there and watch the life drain out of them. I have to live with that memory every single day and always will do. We will do everything we can to fight to get justice for him.”

“We were so excited about our future together and about having children. But that has been destroyed – and the way in which it happened, in a place where he was supposed to be cared for and given the treatment he needed, is horrific. It will haunt me forever,” says Natasha.

William adds: “It boils my blood that this could happen, that we as his family had to watch Russell die. We are so angry with what he had to go through, this should not have happened, and we want answers – we do not accept their apology.”

Russell, a DPD delivery driver and passionate gamer – who at one point was in the top ten globally in Call of Duty rankings – had complained of stomach problems and diarrhea with blood for several days before his admission to Forth Valley Royal Hospital on September 27, 2021. He had previously been assured by paramedics and his GP he had piles or his diet was responsible, but worsening symptoms saw him taken to A&E.

Over the following 20 days, Russell was given care that his family describe as being “the worst you can imagine”, particularly on Ward B12, where Russell spent his final days. Independently-assessed evidence from his medical records points to concerns including the length of time he was given steroids by IV before emergency surgery, the fact his bowel frequency was not identified as being of concern much earlier, and the abrupt withdrawal of medication.

In a Serious Adverse Event Report from NHS Forth Valley, the Board concedes the hospital should have recognised Russell’s symptoms of sepsis earlier, but claim they cannot respond to the family’s concerns over the standards of care he received on the wards or staff behaviour as it is not documented in his medical notes.

“Russell had never been in hospital before, and of course we as his family believed what we were being told. You trust the experts,” says Anne.

“They kept telling Russell it was trapped wind and he needed to get up and move around, but he was in agony. They never listened to him and he was even told to stop pressing his buzzer, which he only did because he was so desperate for help.

“Not long before he died, he told us he could feel something going through his body and he was in so much pain – he must have been able to feel his organs shutting down from sepsis. But still nothing was done.”

Natasha recalls: “About two hours before Russell died, I asked for help in getting him to the toilet, but was told he would have to do it himself, even though he was barely able to move with the pain. This also happened on a separate occasion earlier the same day when Russell’s father and brother were visiting and were refused help due to the fact he won’t have the help from the nurses when he was discharged.

“It makes us so angry that Russell went in there to get help. We will never get over the way he was treated and the fact he died an agonising death without being listened to.”

Russell’s family are being supported by law firm Slater and Gordon in pursuing answers from NHS Forth Valley, with Derek Couper, head of clinical negligence in Scotland, acting on their behalf.

“Russell’s death was wholly avoidable and NHS Forth Valley has many questions to answer over what happened. You can feel the pain of Anne, William and Natasha in every word they speak about this dreadful ordeal, it is truly heartbreaking, and no family should have to go through this,” says Derek.

“We will do absolutely everything we can to get the answers they need and deserve over what happened to their beloved Russell, and are committed to supporting them every step of the way in their fight for justice.”