A BEREAVED mum’s healthcare campaign – which has made Rugby one of the most ‘heart safe’ towns in the world – has won the support of a government minister.
Naomi Issitt, who launched the Our Jay Foundation in memory of her son Jamie, met with junior heath minister Will Quince to discuss urgent care in Rugby and the importance of publicly accessible defibrillators.
The minister, who was invited to the meeting by Rugby MP Mark Pawsey, heard from Naomi about how the tragic death of Jamie on New Year’s Day 2022 following a cardiac arrest has inspired the Foundation – which has now installed over 60 defibrillators around Rugby.
The meeting followed Mr Quince’s visit to the Hospital of St Cross, where he met with staff at the Urgent Treatment Centre and spoke to them about the opportunities to improve the urgent and emergency care provision in Rugby.
One of the improvements being considered is the restoration of doctor-led urgent care at St Cross, which would enable more people to be treated locally.
Mr Quince was also shown the OurJay defibrillator which has been installed at Mr Pawsey’s constituency office in the town centre – one of many which have been installed in Rugby in Jamie’s memory, and which have already saved five lives.
Naomi said: “OurJays team were grateful that Will Quince met with us to discuss the concerns over emergency healthcare in our town and the catastrophic situation Jamie and his friends had been through.
“We hope that some positive changes are now more likely in the future. We still hope that funding towards defibrillators across the UK can be looked into further, to enable 24/7 public accessible defibrillators, particularly in towns where emergency healthcare provisions are being removed, like the ambulances and A&E departments have been in Rugby.”
Mr Pawsey said: “The work that Naomi and her family have done following their tragic loss is nothing short of inspirational.
“I was particularly pleased to have her support, and the Minister’s support, for introducing doctor-led provision at the Hospital of St Cross, which would enable a greater range of treatment to be provided locally.
“I will of course be continuing to make this case in the strongest possible terms to both my colleagues in Government and to the local health services, and continuing to support the work which Naomi and the OurJay Foundation are doing.”
