Health secretary 'hugged and shook hands' with Harry Dunn family after 'disastrous meeting'

Northamptonshire teenager's step-father in tears after pointless talks amid coronavirus crisis
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Harry Dunn's family have been left angry and embarrassed after a disastrous meeting with the health secretary amid the coronavirus crisis.

The Northamptonshire campaigners had hoped to discuss ambulance delays, which they believe contributed to the teenager's death after the crash last year, with Matt Hancock on Wednesday (March 18).

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But, according to the family spokesman, he had no interest in talking about that, called Harry's step-father Bruce Charles 'Mr Dunn' and went against the social distancing advice by hugging and shaking hands afterwards.

Harry DunnHarry Dunn
Harry Dunn

Family spokesman Radd Seiger, who says he was initially barred from the talks, said: "It was just mortifying, it was embarrassing.

"Charlotte [Charles, Harry's mother] didn't come as she's asthmatic but it's sent Bruce into a tailspin."

Fixing the emergency healthcare system has become a key part of Harry's family's campaign as the 19-year-old waited more than 40 minutes for an ambulance after the collision near Croughton in August.

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Following constructive talks with East Midlands Ambulance Service, Nene Clinical Commissioning Group and others, they wanted to meet the health secretary to further their push for changes.

Harry Dunn's family. (L-R) Bruce Charles, Charlotte Charles, Ciaran Charles, Radd Seiger, Tracey Dunn and Tim DunnHarry Dunn's family. (L-R) Bruce Charles, Charlotte Charles, Ciaran Charles, Radd Seiger, Tracey Dunn and Tim Dunn
Harry Dunn's family. (L-R) Bruce Charles, Charlotte Charles, Ciaran Charles, Radd Seiger, Tracey Dunn and Tim Dunn

Mr Seiger said they have not pushed for a discussion since the Covid-19 outbreak began and expected the Government to be too busy.

"I had not been bunting him down but on Friday, we got an invite for the meeting with Mr Hancock this week - I nearly had a heart attack," he said.

Despite worrying about the advice against all non-essential travel and social distancing, Mr Seiger and the family headed to Whitehall for the meeting on the week of what would have been Harry's 20th birthday.

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Mr Seiger said: "It's not a meeting we wanted and I can't believe it went ahead. I think it's a meeting he will live regret forever."

The Department for Health and Social Care was contacted for comment.