We need a zero tolerance approach to every asthma death

UKDuck. Re. your comment - I couldn't agree more. It breaks my heart to think what Samuel Linton went through - and his poor family. I suspect we will never really know exactly what went on at the school that day, but obviously compassion and common sense were in short supply. There is such ignorance among educators about asthma. It isn't taken seriously enough and a young child paid with his life. I really hope Asthma UK can make a difference with its campaign.

The UK system is now very complex in most areas. Employees are frightened to do anything other than what is on paper incase they get sacked. Common sense is being pushed out and replaced with hugely over complex systems, that make a great hiding place for ignorance. The UK is becoming blind and deaf, because its the paperwork that has come to life and taken control. But paperwork has no thoughts, conscience or humility. I have just come out of the civil service and am very shocked and saddened by what is happening. The systems are almost making us stand on one leg like an idiot and we can do nothing but complain and get told by our managers "as long as I get my wages". BE JUST AND FEAR NOT. truth must prevail and suffering must stop now. Yours with a heart David

I cannot believe some of these stories, inhalers locked in medicine cupboards!!! My Mum was an infant teacher, a little boy in her class had severe asthma, she was taught how to administer nebuliser therapy for him and was happy to do so, why can't others take this seriously? I have severe, difficult to manage asthma and have just resigned from my job because of my employers attitude. At my last Occ Health appointment I was told to 'accept that my manager may never take my condition seriously'. It's bad enough to go through this as an adult, it makes me so so ANGRY that children have to face this, not to mention how worried parents must be.

A National campaign would help, parents complaining to teachers just isn't working. My Son has severe and difficult asthma and collapses regularly at school. Despite my pleas of calling an ambulance whilst nebulising, they still wait to see for a any improvement after. A risk I wont take myself and I understand the condition more.I find out about this via other parents as their children have witnessed the attacks and are frightened.His peak flow is usually fantastic and has no allergies or visable signs an attack is coming, otherwise he would be home with me. Unless something drastic is done another child will die, mark my words, it's just waiting to happen. My Son has never met the school nurse and he's been at school 6 years. The nurse covers the whole area and goes to our school every 3 weeks but mainly deals with cancer, allergies and epilepsy.Teachers will think on whats happened but it will be forgotten next week, this is just so wrong. For Sam's parents sake we must do something to stop this happening again

Good idea to have a campaign. I wondered about Asthma UK contacting all heads of childrens services across the country about this case and sending information on asthma attacks etc. Also point out there is info on Asthma UK site, particularly free resources for teachers and training for teachers. I think the younger school children are particularly vunerable and there is talk of primary school locking away medication. My 12 yr old at secondary school is allowed to carry his medication and he knows when he is in a bad state - enough to get help. I suspect Samuel Linton - as a relatively new Yr 7 - didn't have the confidence to challenge school staff when they didn't help him. So have a campaign aimed at carers of children up to say early teens? I have written to the head of childrens services in my county and would be very happy to send a copy to anyone who would like to write a letter expressing concern etc. Also happy to help an Asthma UK campaign in any way I can as I feel very very strongly about what has happened. It must never happen again.

I don't have specific suggestions for a message but, if it hasn't been done already, perhaps young members of Asthma UK could voice their concerns about this terrible case and about asthma in school generally to the Children's Commissioner here - http://www.11million.org.uk/issue_rooms/commissioner

This awful case has generated a lot of media attention. This may persuade schools to listen to messages some have tended to ignore. We are thinking of organising a campaign to drive the message home. What do you think? What should it include? (Bearing in mind we have very little money at present)

I read in a national paper (metro) about the story of a boy left to die in school corridor of an asthma attack because the teacher did not help. Since this was published most peoples perceptions are that this is an isolated incident. My son who has very severe asthma ended up in hospital 3 times, on oxygen treatment for up to 3 days, because the school refused him his inhalers and just left him in a corridor. Inhalers were classed as normal medication and were locked away in a cupboard and only certain staff were allowed access and allowed to administer medication. If those staff were unavailable ie lunchtime he would regularly have to wait till after lunch before he could get his inhalers, nad as I mentioned above on a few occasions led to severe consequences. I changed my son's school to a school which treat asthma with the respect it deserves and inhalers are kept on the child, with spares in the headteachers room, and written asthma managemet plans. i know that most schools do not do this. I'm a governor at the school and at the last governors meeting it was brought up due to a near-by school having there ofsted inspection. The school were pulled on safety of children because medication should be locked away with only 1-2 members of staff allowed access. This brings up serious questions as to where inhalers fit into this. Schools are getting vey cautious of safety and safeguarding children etc, that they are putting astmatic children at risk, I believe we will see more stories like that of the boy who died. Luckily i managed to peruade my school to continue with the system we have in place and just face ofsted when they arrive, most schools will not have someone with such in depth knowldege to fight for the children.

Echoing Angievere, I have just seen the BBC report - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8584511.stm - and had the same response. Why suspend staff more than two years after the event and not sooner? Perhaps I am being uncharitable but I wonder if this is a knee-jerk reaction in response to the Coroner's finding of neglect 'significantly contributing' to Samuel's untimely death? It is good to hear that action has been taken at council and PCT level but as to this case not meeting government criteria for a serious case review (SCR), the DCSF website states: "...SCRs are undertaken when a child dies (including death by suspected suicide), and abuse or neglect is known or suspected to be a factor in the death. ..." . I wonder what interpretation of "neglect" the Council was using in its decisions against holding a SCR? The logo of the DCSF site is "Every Child Matters": which makes the Council's failure to treat Samuel's case as needing Serious Case Review all the more troubling to me.

Have just heard on the news that 5 staff have been suspended. (It doesnt say if it's teachers.) This is good news, but why has it taken 3 years? How many other children have been at risk in the meantime? Hope this is a wakeup call for all school staff.

Have just heard on the news that 5 staff have been suspended after Sam Linton's death. This is good news but why has it taken so long (3 years since his death)? How many other children have been at risk in schools since then and probably still at risk? sincerely hope this is a wake up call for school staff.

I am deaply saddened to hear of the death of this poor little boy. My daughter's whos 12 has very severe asthma at times and contributes to her having time off school. I cannot comprehend how teachers could allow this tradgedy to happen and then try to sweep it under the carpet by not allowing a case review. I myslelf have recently been diagnosed with asthma. This diseace is a killer and schools need to wake up and get educated, trained to deal with situations in schools such as this i barely can comprehend what the poor parents of this boy must have gone through. I agree with the zero tolerence and all the comments made your so write about it being a postcode lottery as to whether your childrens health is adequeley cared for. The care should be widespread and cover all schools not just in Manchester but everywhere. This dicease sadly will not go away its on the increase and no amount of sorrys would do if it was my daughter who was neglected by the main people who you put your trust in to look after your children in the safety net of education or so you think. My sincere and heartfelt blessing to the family of Samuel Linton god bless you and may he rest in peace. xxx

This is such a distressing case, I find it unbearable to think about what poor Sam went through and the suffering that remains for his family, knowing that he did not get the help he needed and which might have saved him. So I was very dismayed to see a report in the Manchester Evening News, 19 March, ( http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1200975_council_rejected_probe_into_asthma_death_boy_three_times ) stating that Stockport Council decided against a serious case review three times. If the potentially preventable death of a child from a condition prevalent among children doesn't, in their eyes, constitute a serious case, then I am simply at a loss for words. Now that the Coroner has found that neglect by the school 'significantly contributed' to Sam's death, I wonder if the local officials responsible for safeguarding children (Stockport LCSB?) will reconsider their decision not to hold serious case review.

I was very shocked to read of the school's negligence towards the poor boy. My 12 yr old son is a severe asthmatic and I have to say I have found teachers (particularly PE teachers!) to be unaware of what a serious condition asthma can be. I've written to the county director of Children's Services today, to draw her attention to this terribly sad case and to ask about more training for school staff in dealing with asthmatics. I hope Asthma UK will pursue this case to raise awareness. So some 'good' may come out of this tragedy.

Can't believe that somebody panicing for breath and scarecely able to breathe was just left in the corridor like that. I know what bad athma attacks are like and how scary they are.