'Best treatment' for Elliot Taylor - which doctor said was unavailable in Blackpool - actually WAS available

Elliot Taylor, of Squire's Gate Lane, South Shore, died on September 14 after falling from the roof of Talbot Road multi-storey.

He had been suffering from headaches since January that year, when he had taken cocaine to cope with his ongoing mental health problems.

Though he stopped taking the drugs following this, the pain in the left side of his head and his left eye continued and he was eventually diagnosed with cluster headaches by Dr Elizabeth Hodgson at the Highfield Surgery on Lytham Road.

She told Elliot's inquest on Tuesday that the 'best treatment' for cluster headaches, oxygen treatment, was not available in Blackpool, and so Elliot was offered either long-term medication or a round of steroids for his problem.

However, following an inquiry by The Gazette, the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups confirmed that oxygen treatment was indeed available in the resort.

Dr Neil Hartley-Smith, a Blackpool GP and CCG clinical director, said: “Oxygen therapy is available for patients in Blackpool for the treatment of cluster headaches. This would normally be prescribed on the advice of a specialist (neurologist) following their expert review.”

Elliot's mum Catherine Taylor said she didn't know if the treatment would have prevented his death, but added: "If the coroner had been told, perhaps he could have asked why that treatment wasn't offered.

"But if the surgery didn't know (the treatment was available) they need to know so that option is there for other people."

The CCG was asked by The Gazette why the court was told oxygen therapy was unavailable in Blackpool and why the treatment was not offered to Elliot, but a spokesman said the authority was not able to comment on individual care.

The Highfield Surgery was approached for comment. Dr Hodgson said: "As patient confidentiality continues even after the unfortunate death of a patient, I would be unable to answer your questions.