THE family of a teenage girl who died suddenly from an undiagnosed heart condition are urging people to sign a petition over cuts to the coroner’s service.
Kate and Robi Fox, of Woodbridge, are backing Cardiac Risk in the Young’s (CRY) campaign against the Government proposals.
The couple’s 13-year-old daughter Laura, a pupil at Farlingaye High School, died suddenly at home after returning from a family holiday in 1998.
The Government has proposed changes to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 – including the abolition of the Chief Coroner.
CRY believes this could have a devastating effect and leave families that have lost loved ones to sudden heart conditions searching for answers for years.
Mrs Fox said: “No-one can understand the pain and total devastation of losing a child or partner at a young age suddenly and without warning.
“Although the days and months that follow are often a blur, you still want answers and you want them fast.
“Thankfully, the majority of families are treated with great sensitivity – but, sadly, for some, the experience has been appalling.
“Many have had to wait months, or even years to find out a cause of death and their concerns have been treated with little respect. We deserve a Coroner’s Service to help us understand the cause of death of the person who has died.
“Families – like us – must be kept informed and consulted and their feelings, wishes and expectations must be listened to.”
The role of the Chief Coroner was created by the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, although it was never formally started.
It is one of those posts facing the axe as part of the Government’s shake-up of quangos to help save money.
However, in December the House of Lords voted against the plans, saying the Chief Coroner should be preserved.
The proposed changes will soon be debated by MPs in the House of Commons and CRY is hoping the Government will be forced to reconsider.
The petition will be hand-delivered to Number 10 and needs at least 500,000 signatures.
To sign up visit http://www.gopetition.com/ petition/42581.html
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