Latest news with #SteveJames
The Independent
5 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Doctor ‘astounded' by how quickly England cricket star's daughter died
A doctor who treated the daughter of an England cricket star has told a coroner's court he was "astounded" by the speed at which her condition deteriorated before her death. Bethan James, 21, daughter of former Glamorgan and England cricketer Steve James, died on February 8, 2020, hours after being admitted to the University Hospital of Wales (UHW). A post-mortem examination found that Ms. James died of sepsis and pneumonia, with complications arising from Crohn's disease. Dr. Duncan Thomas, who treated Ms. James, a journalism student at the University of South Wales, said he was surprised by how quickly her condition worsened after she was admitted to UHW. Dr. Thomas also expressed "frustration" that Ms. James had not been taken to the resuscitation area sooner, which is reserved for treating the most seriously ill patients. While he did not believe there was anything that could have been done to save her, an expert witness disagreed, saying earlier intervention could have made a "huge difference". Addressing South Wales Central Coroner's Court on Thursday, Dr Thomas said: "I was, I think it's fair to say, astounded at how quickly Bethan was deteriorating. "The rate of Bethan's deterioration was not something I had previously observed in someone of her age group, and, in my career, I have only ever seen it one more time." While dealing with another emergency patient in cardiac arrest, Dr Thomas was informed of Ms James's worsening condition. He said: "When I went back, Bethan was in a highly distressed state, likely as a result of multiple factors. "She was on the edge of the bed, holding on to her mother - Bethan looked extraordinarily unwell. "It was my clinical impression at that time that we would be looking at Bethan's cardiac arrest within a short period of time." Throughout the inquest, concerns were raised over whether more could have been done earlier, including over paramedics failing to alert the hospital about the seriousness of Ms James's condition before she was brought in. While Dr Thomas said the hospital should have received a "pre-alert", he did not believe it would have saved her life, with damage to multiple organs already present before she arrived. "It's my belief that, unfortunately, Bethan would have died," he said. "Bethan's presentation and rate of deterioration were incredibly atypical of someone of her age group." He told the coroner, Patricia Morgan, that Ms James was suffering from a viral, rather than bacterial, form of sepsis, which meant that any antibiotics they were using would not have helped. "There would have been nothing that we were providing that would have stopped the ongoing pathology of the viral infection," he said. Dr Thomas said Ms James's death had a "profound" impact on him and other staff at the hospital, adding: "I wish there was something I could have done". Dr Anurag Joshi, the pathologist who carried out Ms James's post-mortem examination, said Crohn's, an inflammatory bowel disease which he listed as a contributory factor in her death, can lead to immune suppression. Ms James had suffered with gastrointestinal issues for most of her life and had been diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2019. Following complaints of being short of breath, Ms James was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia in late January and given antibiotics. Her condition continued to decline and she was taken to Llandough hospital twice before she was admitted to UHW on February 8. Dr Chris Danbury, an expert witness from University Hospital Southampton, said he disagreed that nothing could have been done to help Ms James. Dr Thomas had said not moving Ms James to the resuscitation area earlier had led to around an hour's delay in testing her lactate levels, but he did not think the treatment would have been different. High levels of lactate in the blood indicate a problem with the body's oxygen supply and are often elevated in those with sepsis. Dr Danbury said knowing that Ms James's levels were high could have helped provide treatments, such as fluids, sooner, with the hour's delay making a "huge difference". "I see patients like this frequently and if you intervene aggressively as they come through the door, you can avoid cardiac arrest," he said. He disagreed that the case was atypical, arguing it fit with a patient who had been "partially treated" for pneumonia. He also disagreed with the assessment that it was most likely to have been a viral form of sepsis, instead believing that there was a bacterial element that did not show up in the post-mortem examination. The coroner adjourned the inquest until June 17.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctor was 'astounded' at how quickly cricket star Steve James' daughter deteriorated before her death - and tells inquest earlier treatment would not have saved 21-year-old
The doctor caring for the daughter of an England cricket star has said he was 'astounded' at how quickly she deteriorated ahead of her death, a coroner's court has heard. Bethan James, 21, the daughter of former Glamorgan and England cricketer Steve James, died on February 8, 2020, just a few hours after being admitted to the University Hospital of Wales (UHW). A post-mortem examination found Ms James died of sepsis and pneumonia, with complications caused by Crohn's disease. Ms James, a journalism student at the University of South Wales, was treated by Dr Duncan Thomas, who said he was surprised by how quickly her condition worsened when she was brought into UHW. Dr Thomas expressed 'frustration' that Ms James had not been brought to the resuscitation area - used for treating the most seriously ill patients - earlier. However, he did not believe there was anything that could have been done to save her. Addressing South Wales Central Coroner's Court on Thursday, Mr Thomas said: 'I was, I think it's fair to say, astounded at how quickly Bethan was deteriorating. 'The rate of Bethan's deterioration was not something I had previously observed in someone of her age group, and, in my career, I have only ever seen it one more time.' While dealing with another emergency patient in cardiac arrest, Dr Thomas was informed of Ms James's worsening condition. He said: 'When I went back, Bethan was in a highly distressed state, likely as a result of multiple factors. 'She was on the edge of the bed, holding on to her mother - Bethan looked extraordinarily unwell. 'It was my clinical impression at that time that we would be looking at Bethan's cardiac arrest within a short period of time.' Throughout the inquest, concerns were raised over whether more could have been done earlier including over paramedics failing to alert the hospital about the seriousness of Ms James's condition before she was brought in. While Dr Thomas said the hospital should have received a 'pre-alert', he did not believe it would have saved her life, with damage to multiple organs already present before she arrived. 'It's my belief that, unfortunately, Bethan would have died,' he said. 'Bethan's presentation and rate of deterioration were incredibly atypical of someone of her age group.' He told the coroner, Patricia Morgan, that Ms James was suffering from a viral, rather than bacterial, form of sepsis which meant that any antibiotics they were using would not have helped. 'There would have been nothing that we were providing that would have stopped the ongoing pathology of the viral infection,' he said. Dr Thomas said Ms James's death had a 'profound' impact on him and other staff at the hospital, adding: 'I wish there was something I could have done'. Dr Anurag Joshi, the pathologist who carried out Ms James's post-mortem examination, said Crohn's, an inflammatory bowel disease which he listed as a contributory factor in her death, can lead to immune suppression. Ms James had suffered with gastrointestinal issues for most of her life and had been diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2019. The inquest continues.
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Bethan James' doctor 'astounded' by how quickly sepsis progressed
A top doctor at the hospital where a 21-year-old died from combination of sepsis, pneumonia and Crohn's disease says he does not believe any treatment would have saved her. Bethan James, the daughter of former Glamorgan and England cricketer Steve James, died on 8 February 2020 at University Hospital Wales in Cardiff after she had been seen at hospital on a number of occasions in the days leading up to her mother, Jane James, previously told the court she felt medical staff missed opportunities to treat the journalism student for a consultant told the court he was "astounded" at the speed of the deterioration in Ms James' health and that there was "no cure". Dr Duncan Thomas, who was in charge of resuscitation at the hospital, said he had never seen anything like Ms James' deterioration in a patient of her age and only one other time previously in his career. He told the inquest he did not believe anything would have saved the student from the moment she arrived at hospital two and a half hours also concluded nothing more could be done to resuscitate her after she later went into cardiac arrest, the inquest heard. Dr Thomas said Ms James, from Cardiff, had a viral rather than the more common bacterial form of James was treated with fluids and antibiotics but the consultant said "nothing we were providing would stop the ongoing pathological progress of that viral infection".There were no drugs in use at the time to tackle viral sepsis, the inquest heard. After arriving at hospital Ms James was seen by a triage nurse and sent to the acute "majors" zone of the emergency department for more than an hour rather than the highest level resuscitation area, the inquest heard. Dr Thomas said it would have been appropriate for the hospital to be given a pre-alert that Ms James was being brought in by paramedics to the emergency he had received the alert, the consultant said he would have taken steps to attempt to create room in resuscitation where tests would have revealed an hour earlier how ill she was. However, it would not have made any difference to Ms James' outcome, Dr Thomas told the coroner. "It is my belief Bethan would have died," he Thomas said that given the results of the tests it was likely she had had sepsis for "some considerable time, likely hours".Under questioning from Ms James' family's lawyer, Dr Thomas agreed that with earlier high level intervention the time she went into cardiac arrest may have been delayed - but maintained she would likely still have done Thomas said: "Bethan's death had a profound impact on myself. She died in an atypical and rapid way which has stayed with me."
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Hospital wasn't ready for cricket star Steve James' daughter and had no bed for her - as inquest hears prompt sepsis treatment could have saved 21-year-old
A hospital was not ready for the tragic daughter of an England cricket star when she fell critically ill and there was no bed available for her, an inquest has heard. Bethan James, 21, daughter of ex-England and Glamorgan batsman Steve James, may have survived if medics had given her the correct treatment for sepsis, Pontyridd Coroner's Court heard. Ms James, who was a journalism student, died just a day after being admitted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on February 9, 2020. Ambulance staff were called to her home when she fell gravely ill while her father was busy covering a Six Nations rugby match in Dublin. She had been turned away by various doctors as her condition worsened over several days. But the health workers did not issue a pre-alert to the hospital to warn of Bethan's condition - and had to triage her on arrival. However when they arrived at the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, a senior nurse was not at their desk and one in another department said there were no beds available. Bethan's sports journalist father was unable to get home and see her before she died due to weather delays. Emergency Medical Technician Aaron Hook said he drove the ambulance to the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, but did not sound the siren or blue lights as he did not deem it appropriate. When he arrived at the hospital Ms James waited in the ambulance with paramedic Laura Wilson while Mr Hook attempted to warn medics of her condition. He said: 'In hindsight you can't fault the treatment itself but in hindsight a pre-alert should have definitely gone in.' Mr Hook told the inquest he could not find the major assessment nurse in the hospital so went to the resus room only to be told there was no bed available for Bethan. He said: 'She desperately needed to go in and whether that was majors or resus she just needed to be off-loaded and receive further assessment and treatment.' In his statement, Mr Hook said: 'I was unable to locate the duty major assessment nurse I decided to enter the resuscitation department to voice my concerns to the nurse in charge. 'I stated the patient's observations had not significantly improved on route despite our treatment and showed them the latest set of observations. 'I informed them that despite our treatment, the patient may be considered suitable for the resuscitation area. 'I was told by the nurse in charge that the patient would not be entering the resuscitation area due to them only having one space remaining.' Ms James was instead treated in the majors area but later admitted to resus where she died. A post-mortem examination found Bethan died from a combination of sepsis, pneumonia and Crohn's disease. She had been diagnosed with Crohn's in the previous months and had been admitted to hospital on a number of occasions in the days leading up to her death, but sepsis was never diagnosed. Her mother Jane James told the court she felt medical staff missed opportunities to treat her daughter for sepsis and had been 'dismissive' of her condition. She said: 'It's heartbreaking as a mum to know that her life could have been saved.' Mrs James described Bethan as a 'caring and beautiful' person who would have made a 'brilliant' journalist. Bethan fell ill towards the end of January 2020 after feeling unusually tired and short of breath while out with a frien,d but within days her condition had worsened dramatically. Her mother said Bethan was struggling to hold a cup and couldn't lift her arm. Her GP arranged an urgent referral at Llandough Hospital in Cardiff on January 27 for her respiratory symptoms to be investigated. The inquest heard notes from the appointment revealed Bethan may have been suffering from community acquired pneumonia, but Mrs James said neither she nor her daughter were told of that diagnosis. Mrs James said they had instead been told she may have a chest infection and that she should take antibiotics as a precaution. Her mother said if the family had been told about 'pneumonia' they would have acted more seriously - and instead Ms James had been determined to go to university to deliver a presentation. The family took her to A&E at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on Sunday, February 2 and said the triage nurse was 'abrupt' with them. Her mother said that during the visit, another doctor was also dismissive saying he did not believe her chest symptoms were of 'any significance'. Instead medics said her symptoms may be due to a hemiplegic migraine, but Mrs James believed Bethan was not fully assessed. The next day Bethan collapsed after being so exhausted from the hospital visit but was reluctant to return after feeling so dismissed by medics. On February 5, her symptoms worsened again and when they returned to A&E Bethan felt humiliated when Dr Chen Wen Ngua, allegedly told her: 'You again! You were here on Sunday.' Mrs James described Dr Ngua as 'very, very dismissive'. Medics recorded her heart rate as so high they assumed the machine was broken. Her mum said: 'She was so unwell. They didn't appreciate how unwell she was.' Ms James was admitted to hospital by paramedics on February 8, 2020 and after eventually being given a bed she died the following day. The hearing was told that Bethan suffered a cardiac arrest after an anaesthetist sedated her. 'As soon as I walked in, I knew she was dead,' her mother said. She told the inquest that at no point was the possibility that her daughter had sepsis mentioned and that the proper protocol could have saved her life. The inquest in Pontypridd before Senior Coroner Patricia Morgan continues.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Ex-England cricket star's ‘beautiful' daughter, 21, was ‘repeatedly dismissed by doctors before her sudden death'
THE daughter of a former England cricket star was repeatedly "dismissed" several times by doctors before her sudden death. Bethan Amy James tragically passed away aged 21 on February 9, 2020 - just 48 hours after being taken to hospital. 6 6 Her dad, former Glamorgan and England cricketer Steve James, was away covering Wales' Six Nations match in Ireland when Bethan became seriously ill. Bad weather meant he was unable to travel home in time to see her before she died. The first day of an inquest into her death opened on June 3, 2020, at Pontypridd Coroner's Court. It will probe her care and treatment under Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and consider how she came about her death - which is believed to have been sepsis. During the hearing, her mother, Jane James, said Bethan was 'dismissed' by multiple medics and that 'her life could have been saved,' according to WalesOnline. Speaking at the inquest, Jane described Bethan as a 'caring' and 'beautiful' person who always put others before herself. At the time of her passing, Bethan lived in Cardiff and was studying journalism at University. Jane said her daughter had suffered gastrointestinal issues throughout most of her life, before she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2019 at the age of 20. Crohn's is a lifelong condition whereby parts of the digestive system become inflamed. Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach aches and cramps, blood in stool, fatigue and weight loss. I shed 6st after pooing 30 times a day - I wrongly put my gassy stomach down to eating too much pizza While there is no cure for Crohn's disease, treatment can help reduce or control symptoms, according to the NHS. Bethan had been unwell for sometime, but her loved ones were unaware she could have contracted sepsis. Jane gave a heartbreaking account at the inquest of the days leading up to her daughter Bethan's death. She explained that on Saturday, January 25, 2020, Bethan had gone into town with a friend but came home feeling tired and short of breath. Concerned, the family booked an emergency GP appointment for the following Monday, January 27. At that appointment, Bethan's GP, Dr Jonathan Carnell, was worried enough to refer her urgently to Llandough Hospital for further checks on her breathing. The inquest heard Bethan was diagnosed with 'community acquired pneumonia' on January 28, 2020 and sent home with antibiotics. But her mum Jane said this wasn't explained clearly. 6 6 'They didn't tell her 'community acquired pneumonia',' she said. 'They said she may have a chest infection and to take antibiotics as a precaution.' Jane said hearing 'pneumonia' would have made them realise how serious it was. Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection, according to the NHS. It can be treated with antibiotics with most people making a full recovery within a few days of treatment. However, the condition can be deadly and lead to sepsis in those with underlying health conditions that make their immunity weaker. 'Abrupt' and 'dismissive' treatment Despite feeling unwell, Bethan went to university the next day to give a presentation but came home 'absolutely exhausted'. Her condition worsened – she developed numbness, pain, involuntary movements, and couldn't eat. 'On Tuesday she could drive, and by Sunday she couldn't hold a cup in her hand,' Jane said. Jane took her to A&E on February 2, 2020. She said the nurse that saw her daughter was 'abrupt,' and a doctor was 'dismissive' of her chest symptoms. She said he spoke to A&E consultant Dr Chen Wen Ngua for advice as well as to neurology registrar Dr Mark Willis. It was heard how the outcome of this hospital trip was that Bethan's symptoms were likely the result of a hemiplegic migraine. 'I don't feel on the second visit that they fully assessed her,' Jane said. 'They didn't appreciate how unwell she was' Bethan collapsed at home the next day but refused to return, saying she felt dismissed. Paramedics found her heart rate high but couldn't force her to go. By February 5, 2020, her right leg was affected, and Jane took her back. Dr Ngua, who saw her again, said: 'You again! You were here on Sunday.' He later told the inquest he 'did not mean to be dismissive.' A medic noted her heart rate was high but assumed the machine was broken. 'Definitely,' Jane said when asked if Bethan should have been admitted. 'She was so unwell. They didn't appreciate how unwell she was," she added. A neurology follow-up was arranged only after Jane threatened to escalate. Bethan 'could barely walk out of the hospital.' The next day, medics had 'no idea' why they were there – the referral hadn't been recorded. Again her heart rate was 'off the scale' and dismissed. Her breathing problems weren't checked. 6 Jane criticised Dr Willis for saying: 'He had seen a 17-year-old girl with similar symptoms and that she is now symptom free and fine.' She added: 'I have no idea how he could say this to Bethan without diagnosing her.' Blood tests were ordered, but Bethan was too dehydrated. Jane said: 'I felt they just wanted Bethan out of there as soon as possible.' Dr Willis told the inquest he was trying to reassure the family. He said her symptoms were rare for sepsis and only mild weakness was observed. Sepsis is the body's extreme and dangerous reaction to an infection. It can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death if not treated quickly. By February 8, 2020, Bethan was bedridden. Jane said she looked 'dreadful' and had pale nails. Despite her mum's offers to call an ambulance, Bethan said Dr Willis had told her she'd be fine. Jane eventually called 999. Paramedic Paul Humphries couldn't record her blood pressure – a sign of sepsis Jane only now understands. He requested a low-priority ambulance (P3), later upgraded to P2. 'I don't know why someone doesn't get a P1 when they are so unwell,' Jane said. Paul told the inquest he believed he acted appropriately. At hospital, they waited in the ambulance despite a bed being available. Bethan was finally triaged at 8:10pm and taken to resus over an hour later. 6 'They didn't know what they were doing' Jane described 'chaos' as medics struggled to insert a line and there was no clear lead on her care. 'She could hardly breathe and was so scared.' An anaesthetist sedated her. 'I felt that with that, her body lost its ability to fight.' Shortly after, Bethan had a cardiac arrest. 'As soon as I walked in, I knew she was dead,' Jane said. The mum said that a sepsis protocol should have been put in place early on and that her daughter. The NHS sepsis protocol requires urgent antibiotics, fluids, and monitoring within one hour of spotting sepsis symptoms. 'She should have had the right care straight away… It's heartbreaking as a mum to know her life could have been saved. "They didn't know what they were doing.' The inquest continues.
