Many of us know how badly 111 failed our loved ones during the pandemic. I know because those failings cost my dad his life.
He called NHS 111 three times over two-and-a-half weeks in April 2020 but was told that he should not go to hospital.
My father was my supporter, my friend and my role model. I remember when I was at university, I was having a bit of a hard time and my dad – as he always did – came to comfort and reassure me. This was emblematic of the relationship we had as father and son.
My mum found him dead on the sofa.
Now, after we campaigned and won it, the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch has identified a series of weaknesses with the helpline, including misjudgment of how seriously ill some people with Covid, like my dad, were, a failure to tell some people to seek urgent help, and a lack of capacity to deal with a sudden spike in calls.
It's a damning indictment.
We won't rest until we have the answers to what happened to our loved ones, lessons are learned so that lives are saved and those who made the decisions that impacted us so badly are held to account.
But campaigning and standing up against injustice isn't easy and the truth is it costs money.
I'm hoping you may be able to help me and everyone else who lost loved ones due to failures in the 111 service keep fighting for justice by giving any amount you feel you can. Every penny you give goes towards honouring our lost loved ones and getting them the justice they deserve.
Lobby Akinnola
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Click here to read the Guardian story on the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch report