Chris Philp MP and Sanderstead resident Ash Frisby have successfully changed NHS medical guidance following the tragic deathh of Ash’s husband Myles Frisby, 71.
Chris was contacted in 2015 by Ash to change medical guidelines following the preventable death of her husband, Brigadier Myles Frisby.
Due to the results of a previous heart operation, Myles Frisby was considered to be at high risk from infection.
Following a minor scratch at a dental appointment, Myles developed an infection that eventually spread to his heart. This could have been prevented if the dentist had been able to provide anti-biotics as a matter of standard practice for high-risk patients.
In the months that followed her husband’s death, Mrs Frisby contacted Chris and they began to campaign together to change the NICE guidelines.
Chris and Mrs Frisby gained the support of leading academics in the field, including Professor Martin Thornhill at the University of Sussex’s School of Clinical Dentistry.
The successful campaign has now caused NICE to change its guidelines so that dentists and doctors are now able to prescribe antibiotics to high risk patients as they see fit.
Chris said: “The NICE guidelines were not working in the best interests of patients. It is unacceptable that person who has been identified as at risk of infection is putting their life on the line for simple dental work.
Following the change in guidelines, Mrs Frisby said: “I do feel it is a significant change, professors who Chris and I have worked with have said that this is a significant achievement.
“At first many who I spoke to said that they had already tried but had not been listened to, I suppose they came up against a brick wall.
“All of us worked together as a real good team, and I do think that these changes could save lives.
“But I do feel that more can be achieved.
“But I have growing confidence in what can be achieved when you work closely with an MP who is hard working.”
