Sickle cell and thalassaemia day unit at North Mid named in honour of Evan Nathan Smith
Family, friends and former school friends of Evan Nathan Smith gathered in his memory today to mark the formal naming of the sickle cell and thalassaemia day care unit at North Mid in his honour, with the generous support of his parents.
Betty and Charles Smith were joined for the unveiling of a brass plaque featuring their son’s name by close and extended family, friends and former school friends of their late son, and campaigners from the sickle cell and thalassaemia patient communities, who have supported them so significantly over the past years.
Mr and Mrs Smith had given permission for North Mid to name its sickle cell and thalassaemia day care unit after Evan, who died at the hospital in 2019. The facility’s new name now features at the heart of the day care unit, below a framed portrait of Evan.
Thanking Mr and Mrs Smith for their grace, North Mid’s chief executive Dr Nnenna Osuji said: “It is a genuine privilege that Betty and Charles have allowed us to name this facility after their treasured son. I do not underestimate how much strength and faith they have drawn on to make this gesture. As a Trust, we could and should have done better by Evan, and for this I remain profoundly sorry. I speak on behalf of everyone at North Mid when I commit us to honouring Evan’s legacy by continuing to improve care for sickle cell and thalassaemia patients, living up to the trust of Evan’s family and friends.”
Evan, the only son of Betty and Charles, died in 2019, aged 21, after attending North Mid and experiencing deterioration which did not receive the prompt response it should have. The story of how he was cared for – and what could and should have been done better – was shared at an inquest into his death which concluded in April 2021, and received widespread media coverage along with calls for change.
Since Evan’s death, and with support from legal representatives as well as advocates from the red cell community, Evan’s family have called for improvements in how patients with sickle cell and other red cell genetic disorders are looked after by NHS services, including during acute and fast changing episodes.
During the day, friends, relatives and loved ones of the Smith family also heard from nurse consultant Sekayi Tangayi, who joined North Mid in Autumn 2022 to help lead new and ongoing improvements in our haematology services. Sekayi, who has specialised in genetics for over two decades, has a strong record in engaging and involving patients and families in service improvement.
She told assembled guests about changes which have been made in North Mid’s services for people with red cell disorders, including sickle cell and thalassaemia. This encompassed many which have been directly triggered by the tragedy of Evan Nathan Smith’s death. These include:
- Electronic flagging of records for patients with red cell disorders
- Improvements in reducing the time taken from arrival to first receiving analgesia for patients who present in pain
- Training in red cell disorders and caring for patients with them, for nurses in a ward dedicated for these patients
- Introduction of patient-controlled analgesia
- Designing and progressing pathways which bypass the emergency department, to allow patients with red cell disorders to get the care they need more quickly, by specialists and by people who know them best. As part of this pathway, the introduction of a single point of contact for red cell patients, 24/7.
Dr Osuji added:
“I cannot imagine the anguish of parents outliving their son. In my conversations with Betty and Charles since I joined North Mid shortly after the inquest into Evan’s death, I have heard in simple and truly human terms, the pain of a mother and father, which no amount of apology can ease. During this event, we described the improvements to services which have been made, but we also remain focused on the importance of human kindness, respect, care and responsiveness to others’ needs, which sets us apart in healthcare and are fundamental to safety. I remain deeply grateful that the Smith family have allowed North Mid to create this lasting reminder of the importance of these values in everything we do for our patients."