Bethan had a brilliant and full life ahead of her but it was taken away. It could so easily have been avoided
'It is heartbreaking for us to know that with appropriate treatment, Bethan would not have died... We now hope to receive an apology from the health board'
The family of 21-year-old Bethan James, whose death could have been avoided, have slammed a health board for failing to take accountability. The daughter of cricket star Steve James was admitted to hospital on February 8, 2020 and died on February 9.
An inquest into her death heard that she died of sepsis and pneumonia, which was complicated by the immune suppressing effects of Crohn's disease. However during the inquest's conclusion on Tuesday coroner Patricia Morgan said that Bethan likely 'would not have died' if medics acted appropriately sooner.
The conclusion at Pontypridd Coroner's Court followed three days of evidence earlier this month. It included a statement from Bethan's mother, Jane, who detailed how she believed her daughter had been dismissed multiple times by hospital medics before her death. An expert witness had also shared that he believed Bethan's life could have been saved.
Following the conclusion Steve and Jane delivered an emotional and scathing statement, which was read out to the press by their advocate Richard Booth KC.
Bethan James was just 21 when she died. She hoped to teach others about Crohn's
The speech outlined the family's "indescribable" grief, before going on to reveal how an inquest into Bethan's death was refused three times before it was finally permitted.
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The family, who live in St Mellons in Cardiff, shared that they are "glad" that the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust (WAST) accepted "some of their failings", but said they are "deeply disappointed" that Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CVUHB) "has not done the same".
The called for the health board to apologise and for healthcare professionals to "admit their mistakes" so that "lessons can be learnt".
The family pleaded with the Welsh Government to implement Martha's Rule across the NHS in Wales.
This is a patient safety initiative in English NHS hospitals, granting patients and their families the right to request an urgent review by a critical care outreach team if they are concerned about a patient's deteriorating condition.
WalesOnline has asked WAST, CVUHB and the Welsh Government to comment.
The statement was read out by the family's advocate
(Image: John Myers )
Here is the family's full statement:
"It is over five years since Bethan died, but the pain and grief are still indescribable and will always be so. Our hearts are broken forever and we miss her dreadfully.
"We know that Bethan should not have died and we have always felt that she was let down by the healthcare professionals who should have been there to help and support her.
"Bethan was just too kind and caring; never one to make a fuss or complain about anything. And even when we tried to advocate on her behalf we were dismissed and we were not listened to by the doctors and nurses.
"Although it has taken over five years - and they (the family) threatened judicial review to secure an inquest for Bethan after three refusals to hold an inquest - we are pleased His Majesty's area coroner Mrs Patricia Morgan permitted a comprehensive investigation of the circumstances leading up to Bethan's death, involving three days of evidence.
"We note the coroner's conclusion this morning that there were a number of delays which contributed to Bethan's death. It is heartbreaking for us to know that with appropriate treatment, Bethan would not have died.
"At 21 and just finishing her journalism degree our beautiful Bethan had a brilliant and full life ahead of her, but it was taken away by a catalogue of errors that could so easily have been avoided by etter listening, understanding, recognition and actions by healthcare staff.
"Sepsis is still not spotted quickly enough and this was a tragic example.
"We are glad that the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust has at least admitted some of their failings, but we are deeply disappointed and distressed that the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has not done the same.
"It has become a cliche that the NHS is broken, but this was a case in point because the care given to Bethan was simply unacceptable.
"We now hope to receive an apology from the health board."
You can read more from the inquest here:
Parents Steve and Jane James outside Pontypridd coroner's court
(Image: John Myers )
The statement continued: "Suffering from pneumonia - not that we were told this - and against her background of Crohn's disease, unable to tolerate oral antibiotics without being sick.
"Bethan should have been admitted to hospital long before the day she died, but on each of the five occasions when she attended hospital in the last two weeks of her life, we felt the general plan was to send her home as quickly as possible simply because there was not space for her.
"In her sixth and last hospital attendance on the evening of Saturday, February 8, 2020, this culminated in Bethan not being admitted to the resuscitation unit swiftly enough and therefore not receiving the critical care she so desperately required
"As a family we hope that this never happens to another family in the future.
"But for that to be the case sepsis training and recognition of symptoms need to improve dramatically. Equally as importantly, healthcare staff need to admit their mistakes so that lessons can be learnt.
"We have observed with interest the imposition of Martha's Rule in England named after Martha Mills who also died of sepsis when her family's concerns were not listened to.
"Martha's Rule is a major patient safety initiative providing patients and families with a way to seek an urgent review if they or their loved one's condition deteriorates and they are concerned they are not being responded to.
"This now provides parents in England with a route to a critical outreach second opinion.
"We urge the Welsh Government to implement Martha's rule across the NHS in Wales so that needless and tragic deaths like Bethans might be avoided."
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