Real Voices. Real Impact.
“When something goes wrong, we must face it openly.”
~ Dr Agnelo Fernandes, AvMA Trustee
Share your story
Help us amplify the voices of people affected by avoidable medical harm and campaign for safer healthcare.
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Your donation of as little as £7 a month supports our work assisting people after avoidable medical harm to get the outcomes they need.
Impact with urgency
This year, AvMA answered 2,500 calls for help. For each family we support, another is still reaching out for help.
See the people behind the harm — These are their stories
Dylan's story
At just 9 years old, Dylan, a bright and curious boy with a love for coding and Lego, tragically lost his life.
"We want Dylan to be remembered for the unique, endearing person he was. Driven by a sense of justice, Dylan sought to right wrongs. It should not take the preventable harm of anyone so that others can be spared."
Lauraine's story
Ten years ago, Lauraine underwent a hysterectomy for a suspected mass. Two days later, her bowel perforated and she became critically ill. Since then, her life has been completely transformed.
"I now live with three stoma bags, repeated hospitalisations, sepsis, and permanent damage to my bladder and eyes. I also struggle with PTSD, depression, and anxiety as a result of what happened."
Martyn's story
In December 2022, Martyn collapsed unexpectedly. A consequent series of critical errors by the local ambulance trust led to an emergency vehicle being incorrectly stood down. Martyn tragically lost his life.
"Imagine the person you care most about being completely abandoned when they are at their most vulnerable … and in the aftermath, there is no semblance of support or compassion."
Chris' story
In August 2024, Chris, a loving father and avid traveller, had his life turned upside down after suffering a fall from an operating table. Chris had been left unsupervised whilst under sedation and now has life-altering injuries.
"I was woken up three hours after the accident to a completely injured body, head to toe, as well as injuries in both of my shoulders, and major dental damage. Being on benefits, I'm unable to afford the large dental bill."
Tracey's story
At 46, Tracey, an active fitness instructor, was given a hip replacement — a procedure which was supposed to give her life back. Instead, it led to years of chronic pain and fatigue.
"For years, I was told 'everything looks fine' — but my body knew otherwise. It took courage and persistence to uncover the truth: my cobalt levels were dangerously high due to wear in my cobalt-chromium hip implant, a risk that can cause local and systemic harm."
Johnny's story
Johnny Alfrey was a kind, talented 22-year-old musician who loved making everyone around him laugh. Tragically, Johnny's life was cut short after serious failings in his care.
"He suffered terribly for two weeks before his organs gave up the fight and he succumbed to his misdiagnosed heart failure. I will never get the images of my poor boy dying and pleading for help out of my head."
Lynette's story
Lynette is a kind mother and grandmother, with a love for sewing, reading and flower arranging. Between 1995 and 2004, Lynette suffered devastating injuries from two spinal surgeries. Only later did another doctor uncover the real damage: migrated staples, nerve injury, and long-term consequences that changed her life.
"The first operation had been experimental, without my consent. I only learned this later. The impact has been permanent."
Kath's story
Kath is a passionate health campaigner who founded Sling the Mesh in 2015 after experiencing life-altering complications from pelvic mesh surgery.
"Mesh harmed me and thousands of others in ways we could never have imagined. We were told it was a simple, gold-standard fix with minimal risk. But for many, it led to life-changing and often irreversible complications ... I went from being super active to living with pain."
Brian's story
Quiet, thoughtful, and a perennial DIYer, Brian was a history buff who enjoyed rugby internationals, good food, and the odd tot of whiskey. He loved his family deeply and was devoted to his wife of 55 years.
"Losing my dad Brian was deeply painful, and navigating what followed was overwhelming at times ... Patients and families deserve honesty and the opportunity to understand what happened — only then can lessons truly be learned."
Viv's story
After a cancer diagnosis, Viv was perscribed immunotherapy. Unfortunately, she developed immunotherapy related colitis, which then quickly progressed into a 'turbo cancer' of the colon. Due to an error in her healthcare, Viv had not been given a long enough course of steroids to prevent the colitis.
"After telling her about the terminal diagnosis the nurse who had previously rejected her request for a long course of steroids said to her 'I'm sorry, I didn't know this would happen'."
Maria's story
Maria, an 88-year-old mother and grandmother, has always lived an active life, with a love for helping her family, spending time in her garden, and being outdoors.
In 2021, everything changed for Maria when she woke up from a biopsy under general anaesthetic and found she couldn't move.
"I sustained spinal fractures that were not acted upon despite MRI 'red flags'. As a result, I am now in a wheelchair, unable to look after myself."
Janet's story
Janet is a 66-year-old book illustrator and teacher of art and creative arts. She has sustained a love for the arts, working in advertising, publishing, television, and education.
After a tongue biopsy in 2018 that led to devasting impact, Janet's life was suddenly changed forever. She later discovered that the biopsy had been clinically unnecessary.
"Before that day, I was a fully functioning person. By that afternoon, my life had changed completely."
Darius' story
At 23 years old, Darius, a healthy and active young man with a passion for climbing, started experiencing pain in his lower back. Brushed off by doctors as scatica, Darius' pain continued to worsen, to the point he was left crawling on the floor in agony.
After months of GP appointments, phyisotherapy, and constant dismissal, the truth finally came to light. He opened his NHS app to find out he had stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
"It is hard enough receiving a cancer diagnosis at 23, much more so knowing that my cancer could and should have been detected and treated sooner."
Graham's story
Tracey remembers her husband Graham as "the kindest, most loving man you could ever meet. Quiet, unassuming and with a zest for life and the outdoors."
In June 2024, their lives changed forever when Graham suffered a catastrophic accident in their garden, leaving him paralysed from the shoulders down. Once active and social, the couple suddenly faced a life filled with challenges and loss.
"Everybody needed a Graham in their life, and he was my everything."
Joan's story
When Joan was vising hospital for a health concern, she told her daughter Debbie that due to her age, she was worried she would not be listened to by those in charge of her care.
As an NHS employee herself, Debbie reassured her loving mum that this wasn't the case. Unfortauntely, in the last two weeks of her life, Joan's concerns became her reality.
"My Mum Joan was a quiet yet very strong and independent lady. She was the centre of the family, and the lynchpin that held everyone together, especially at Christmas."
Rachel's story
For more than two decades, Rachel battled cancer after cancer. Despite this long and complex history, the NHS repeatedly missed opportunities to refer her for genetic testing.
When testing was finally done in 2019, it was too late. Rachel sadly died following a recurrence of breast cancer that had spread to her liver.
"I was so proud to call Rachel my wife. She was devoted to me, to our family, and to everyone she cared for. She will be missed more deeply than words can ever express."
Put patient safety at the heart of this Christmas
This season you can support AvMA to be there for more people, ensuring that no one has to face avoidable medical harm alone.
“By the time I found AvMA, it was too late. I wish I’d known earlier.” Lauraine Clarke
Choose to give £7, £14, £24 or another amount of your choice.
AvMA will use your generous donation to help fund our helpline, inquest work, outreach projects and general work that contributes to national policy and patient safety reform.
Share your story
“This Christmas, I hold on to hope and the belief that by sharing our stories, we can create change and bring comfort to others.” — Tracey
AvMA invites people to share their experiences to help healthcare listen, learn, and improve. Because it can happen to anyone.
Why these stories matter
'You know your loved one better than anyone and make sure that person’s voice gets heard.' ~ Tracey W
Together, these voices remind us why honesty, listening, and openness must be at the heart of care.
When things go wrong, people deserve openness and information.
Listening saves lives.
Honesty is the basis of trust and learning.
No one should have to cope alone.
Every story shared helps healthcare learn and protect others.
Thank you for supporting AvMA this Christmas!🎄
Your donation can transform lives. It helps us provide expert advice, speak the truth when it matters most, and drive change for safer healthcare.
Avoidable medical harm can happen to anyone - but together, we can ensure no one faces it feeling powerless or alone.
