Heartbreak in Midlothian as a young dad-of-three, Dylan Jones, tragically passed away after enduring an agonising 15-hour wait for critical care. At just 28, Dylan was a dedicated fibre engineer and a loving father. Sadly, he spent his final days battling a severe health crisis, exacerbated by cirrhosis of the liver.
Dylan’s ordeal began when unbearable pain forced him to call for an ambulance. What followed was a distressing wait—two hours for the ambulance followed by 13 hours on a trolley in a hospital corridor before receiving a crucial MRI scan. By then, Dylan’s condition had worsened, revealing a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding. Despite the medics’ efforts with emergency surgery and multiple transfusions, it was too late to save him.
His family believes quicker action could have made all the difference. Dylan’s cousin, Billielea, shared their heartache, stating, “He fought so hard. If seen sooner, he’d still be with his kids today.”
The incident has sparked outrage and calls for urgent healthcare reform. Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie labelled Dylan’s death a “scandal,” highlighting the broader crisis facing the NHS. The heartache extends into the government’s top levels, with Health Secretary Neil Gray expressing condolences and acknowledging the system’s failures.
Dylan is fondly remembered as a bright spirit who “lit up every room.” He leaves behind a legacy of laughter and love shared with his family, who are now grappling with an unimaginable loss.
The condolences from NHS Lothian and the Scottish Ambulance Service offer some solace, but the pressing demand for change remains. Dylan’s story is a poignant reminder of the urgent need for effective emergency healthcare provision, ensuring no family endures such a tragedy again.