Death of campaigning journalist prompts NHS serious case review

Dan Kay was a well-known campaigner working with the families of the Hillsborough disaster victims

The death of a Liverpool journalist will be examined as part of an NHS serious case review, a court heard.

Dan Kay, 45, died on 7 May, 2023, after being struck by a train.

Mr Kay's death was the subject of a pre-inquest review at Gerard Majella Courthouse in Liverpool on Monday.

The court heard the inquest would be adjourned pending the review into treatment Mr Kay received from Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Assistant coroner Joseph Hart said Mr Kay's contact with the trust's Liaison Psychiatry Team and Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team will be explored at the full inquest, expected to be held later this year.

Mr Hart said Mersey Care staff, Mr Kay's GP and British Transport Police will be asked to provide witness statements.

Mr Kay worked for the Liverpool Echo, most recently as a sports writer, and was a well-known campaigner on behalf of the families of the Hillsborough disaster victims.

'Important issues'

He had worked closely with the family of Anne Williams, whose son Kevin died in the disaster, co-writing her daughter Sara Williams' book With Hope in her Heart.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Kay's cousin, Amos Waldman, welcomed the decision to examine his treatment.

He said: "We believe there are important issues to be explored."

Solicitor Leanne Devine, who is representing Mr Kay's family, said: "The family urge Mersey Care NHS Trust to approach this inquest with transparency and comply with their duty of candour."

Mersey Care said it could not comment while inquest proceedings are ongoing.

Mr Waldman told BBC Radio Merseyside the grief his family felt over Mr Kay's loss was "present all the time".

He said: "The sort of person that Dan was, the incredible person that he was, mental health and the provision of care was important to him.

"So we feel duty-bound to explore that and make sure if there are lessons to be learned, they are learned."

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