Coroner warns of ‘insidious’ meningitis after death of 25-year-old DJ

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A coroner has urged GPs’ receptionists to be aware of the symptoms of meningitis when speaking to patients on the phone, following the death of a 25-year-old DJ. “Realising that young people may be reticent in explaining a cluster of symptoms which they may not themselves understand requires skilful probing by anyone taking telephone calls and acting as an interface between patient and clinician.” The day before he was admitted to hospital Mr Theodossiadis saw a nurse at a walk-in centre, and the inquest heard how meningitis was “on her radar” during her assessment, but he had not shown symptoms at that time. The coroner paid tribute to the DJ’s parents, Professor Sue Theodossiadis who is a medical imaging expert, and his father, also Alex, a consultant psychiatrist. “I wish to pay tribute to your persistence in raising questions – unless people question and challenge, then standards will never improve and may well slip.” Dr Phil Wood, chief medical officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I would like to offer our sincere condolences to Alexander’s family and apologise that the care he received was not to the standard we would expect.