THE PARENTS of a 22-year-old autistic man who died while in hospital in 2015 are calling for a review into their son's treatment.

Mark Stuart was admitted to Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital on November 9 2015 with severe stomach pains, where he died five days later.

A subsequent investigation found that East Lancashire Health Trust did not provide Mr Stuart with a consistently high standard of care and that his death may have been avoidable, with his parents saying he had been left hungry and thirsty due to a nil by mouth order while waiting for a delayed operation and that he had not recieved the correct nutrition or fluids.

Richard and Janet Stuart said: "Not only did they kill our son who was nil by mouth all week by not prescribing fluids or intravenous nutrition, they have made our lives a misery every since with their constant lies and covering up the truth.

"The truth of what happened has never come out and not one person has been held to account for the appalling treatment Mark received at the hospital."

Lancashire Telegraph:

Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital 

Since their son's death Mr and Mrs Stuart have been dedicated to investigating the circumstances surrounding the events.

They have also questioned the independence of previous reports and feel that there concerns have not been addressed.

However this has taken a heavy toll on the family.

Mrs Stuart said: "This has had such an effect on Richards health that he has suffered from several seizures and admissions to hospital.

"On one admission his GP said she did not think he would be coming out."

The Stuarts, who live in Cumbria, have been supported by their local MP, former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, who has previously helped to set up meeting between the couple and then secretary of state for health Jeremy Hunt and who has added his voice to those calling for a review.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Tim Farron MP (Picture credit: PA)

Mr Farron said: "I can’t even begin to imagine the pain and the hurt that Richard and Janet have experienced these past few years.

"It’s been an honour to stand alongside them as they fought so bravely to find out the truth and get justice for Mark.

“It’s important that we force an independent review to ensure that other families don’t have to go through the same experience and that the NHS keep to their duty of candour and when investigations take place that lessons are actually learned and implemented”

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust meanwhile has changes have been made as a result of previous inquiries.

A statement issued by the trust said: "The trust acknowledges that Mark’s care fell below our usual standards and we have apologised unreservedly to his family for these shortcomings.

“The circumstances surrounding Mark’s sad death in 2015 have been fully considered at a public inquest, as well as several independent and internal investigations.

"The trust has met with the family a number of times, shared the findings and assured them we have made changes as a direct result.

“However, we fully understand that Mark’s death has left his family understandably utterly devastated and neither our apology nor the changes made will provide much comfort to them at this time.”