Dedicated doctor, 23, dies of severe seizure

Nov 9 2007 by David Powell, Liverpool Daily Post

A DEDICATED young doctor has died from a severe epileptic seizure only months after winning her first job at Southport and District General Hospital.

Dr Rachel Rhiannon Jones, 23, who had been diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 14, died after falling ill in bed at the hospital’s accommodation block on November 1.

She had graduated in July and secured a position with Southport and Ormskirk Hospital Trust. She was so popular among her colleagues that she was quickly elected Mess President for the doctors’ social programme.

Dr Jones was brought up in Deganwy, North Wales, by her master mariner father, Monty, and her American-born mother, Thelma, a local secondary school teacher.

Her family said in a statement: "Despite debilitating seizures and strong medication, Miss Jones achieved outstanding GCSEs and strong A-levels."

They were not quite as expected but undeterred she rang medical schools and five years ago got a place at Southampton University.

"Her integrity, friendship and loving nature made her hugely popular. Her heroism in the face of adversity went largely unnoticed as she told few people of her medical condition. Her job as a doctor rapidly became her life. She loved every minute of her new profession."

During her medical studies, Miss Jones, who played in her university’s women’s rugby team, travelled and worked in Thailand.

Her sister Sian, 21, said: "I am honoured to be related to her. She loved being a doctor. She had a lust for life. She was really bubbly and friends with everybody.

"She was always bright and happy, always smiling and joking. She would light up a room when she walked in. I never once saw her down, upset or moody."

Brother Matthew, 25, said he had enjoyed a night out with Rachel in Manchester only weeks ago when she was cheerful and happy.