We are the parents of a beautiful baby boy, Ronnie Jones, born on 26 July 2020. Ronnie was born Prematurely at 30 weeks.Due to delays in delivery, our precious child was born with brain injuries leading to severe cerebral palsy and other conditions.

Tragically, Ronnie passed away on 1 November 2021 at only 15 months old, from bronchopneumonia and lung disease - complications arising from his neurological issues and general vulnerability.

My husband was by my side from the very beginning, he was Ronnie's full time carer, he had taken courses to enable him to care for all his needs correctly. He  witnessed first hand all the traumatic situations, that no parent should ever have to witness.

Our personal tragedy has highlighted a significant gap in the legal system. Following a judgment handed down by the Supreme Court on 11 January 2024 which found that generally, “secondary victim” claimants can no longer bring claims for witnessing the death or sudden serious injuries of a loved one. This lack of provision fails to acknowledge the profound psychological impact such traumatic experiences can have on individuals.

In England and Wales alone, approximately one in five adults (19%) have witnessed someone else's traumatic event which had subsequently impacted their mental health according to Mental Health Foundation UK (2018). Yet these secondary victims often find themselves without legal recourse or recognition.

We believe it is time for change. It's time that we recognize the emotional trauma endured by secondary victims as real and deserving of legal recognition. By allowing claims for psychiatric injuries witnessed in children, we can provide some measure of justice for those left behind with unimaginable pain.

Please join us in urging lawmakers to amend legislation so that secondary victims can bring forward claims for psychiatric injuries sustained through witnessing such heartbreaking incidents involving children. Sign this petition today; let's make this change together!