Latest news with #JohnGittins
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Wrexham death crash junction safety improvements made
Safety improvements have been made at a junction where a mum-of-three was killed in a Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, voiced his concern after opening an inquest into the death Emma Jane Hill, who died after a collision on April issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report to Wrexham council over his fears of the lay-out and speed limit on the A534 at Holt and warned more people could be Hill, 43, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, was a passenger on a motorbike heading along the A534 which collided with a Mercedes car which emerged from the road into Holt. Though the full inquest is yet to be held, Mr Gittins expressed concern about visibility at the junction for vehicles turning right towards Wrexham as the view could be obscured by signs or vehicles slowing to turn into the also said the fact the speed limit changed from 40mph to 60mph (65km/h to 95km/h) meant vehicles would be picking up speed, creating an added risk. "It is also my understanding that there have been previous collisions in this vicinity in the past," he has now had a response from Wrexham council which said talks had been held about reducing the speed limit with colleagues from Cheshire West and Chester council as Holt borders the two also said the junction would "benefit from some minor alterations and we have already raised the sign on the junction to improve visibility".
Leader Live
4 days ago
- General
- Leader Live
Wrexham Council plans to reduce speed limit on A534 in Holt
It comes following the inquest opening into the death of Emma Jane Hill who sadly died in a crash on the A534 Wrexham Road in Holt on Sunday, April 6. At the opening of her inquest, coroner John Gittins issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report to Wrexham Council over safety concerns about the road. He said: "Following discussions with the Roads Traffic Policing Unit of North Wales Police, I am concerned that although at this location the A534 is a comparatively straight stretch road, the visibility from the junction when turning right out of the village in the direction of Wrexham may on occasions be obstructed by signage and/or by vehicles which are slowing to turn into the village. "Furthermore as this straight stretch of road is subject to a national speed limit following a 40 mph zone, traffic may be accelerating or travelling at speed, thus creating risk both for persons exiting the junction and traffic which is continuing along the main road. "It is also my understanding that there have been previous collisions in this vicinity in the past." North Wales East and Central senior coroner, John Gittins (Image: Newsquest) A petition was also launched which called for a reduced speed limit on the road - and has gathered nearly 1,500 online signatures. Wrexham Council has since responded to the coroner's report - and said it is working with Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) on road safety improvements, including a reduction in the location's current national speed limit. MORE NEWS: Darren Williams, the council's chief officer for Environment and Technical, said: "I can confirm that our Network and Asset team leader has liaised with colleagues from CWAC in relation to the speed limit reduction. "Whilst this would be subject to a formal Traffic Regulation Order consultation process, both local authorities have given a principle commitment to reducing the speed limit on this road and doing so in partnership as the road crosses the border. "Additionally, the location has been assessed by our Road Safety Officer. It has been determined that the junction would benefit from some minor alterations and we have already raised the sign on the junction to improve visibility. "The other improvements can be achieved with amendments to the road markings."
Leader Live
22-04-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Report issued by coroner after death of Flintshire pensioner
John Gittins, Senior Coroner for North Wales East and Central, expressed concern about the situation following the death of a Mold pensioner. Patricia Ann Catterall, 81, had been a patient at Mold Community Hospital for 207 days before being transferred to the Cae Bryn Nursing Home, part of the Pendine Park care organisation, in Wrexham on June 11, 2024. Her condition deteriorated and on June 19 she was admitted to the Maelor Hospital where she was diagnosed as suffering from Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic Syndrome (HHS) – very high blood sugar levels – and sepsis. Her condition and co-morbidities meant she was unfit for aggressive treatment and she died on June 23. An inquest heard that whilst in hospital Mrs Catterall's blood sugar levels were checked three times a day in hospital in Mold but only once a day at the nursing home. In a Prevention of Future Deaths sent to the Pendine Park organisation and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, the Coroner said: 'The process of assessment by the Nursing Home prior to the transfer of care to them was not sufficiently robust so as to ensure that all relevant information required for the safe care of a patient had not been received and assessed prior to the patient being received into their care. 'Evidence was received that in the majority of cases (post Covid) there are no face-to-face assessments prior to patient transfer and that the assessment is therefore dependent on the documentation supplied to the Nursing Home by the Health Board, which in some cases may result in not all relevant information being provided. 'In this instance evidence was given that the Nursing Home did not know that the deceased's blood sugar levels were monitored three times per day whilst in the care of the Health Board.' MOST READ: A spokesperson for the Cae Bryn nursing home said: 'It is clearly vitally important that a nursing home is given full and detailed information about a patient's needs when they are discharged from hospital and we will convey to the Coroner that we would support a tightening up of the handover procedure to ensure that hospitals pass on all the relevant information to the home so that the appropriate level of care can be provided.' Angela Wood, Executive Director of Nursing & Midwifery at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: 'I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences to the family for their loss. 'We are continually working to improve our services, and we will be responding to the coroner directly outlining the actions that we are taking.' The home owners and Health Board have until June 6 to respond, either explaining what steps have been taken to address the Coroner's concerns or why it is felt that no action is necessary.
