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.
Article continues below
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."
Article continues below
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Davina McCall raves this collagen supplement makes ‘a noticeable change to skin and joints'
Davina McCall has been raving to fans this week about this best-selling collagen supplement, which the 57-year-old swears 'makes a noticeable difference to energy, skin and joints' Collagen has been proven to be a vital structural protein that supports the integrity, elasticity, and strength of the skin, hair, nails, joints, bones, and gut lining. Everyone's natural collagen levels gradually decrease with age, which can lead to less elasticity in the skin or less flexible joints over time. But, Davina McCall may have found the perfect supplement of hydrolysed collagen peptides that work to support the body's natural repair, replenish, and renewal processes, helping you to look and feel younger and healthier. The 57-year-old English TV presenter is a sworn fan and brand ambassador of Ancient + Brave, in particular their best-selling True Collagen Powder. Davina raved about the supplement, saying: "True Collagen is the only collagen I like, it's convenient, tasteless, and it works." She also enthuses, "I'm obsessed with True Collagen. When I take it, I feel the difference." And before you worry that you will need to have a celebrity-sized bank account to join Davina in enjoying the benefits of True Collagen, this supplement actually retails for the relatively affordable price of £25.60, which includes approximately 40 servings. This True Collagen powder is an easily digestible, highly absorbable, and clinically researched Type I hydrolysed bovine collagen peptides. Once easily absorbed through the gut, these peptides supply the building blocks for new collagen and can also stimulate collagen-producing cells, supporting the natural repair processes for new skin, hair, and nail cells. Collagen's whole-body benefits reflect its ripple effect as a multi-functional protein. Beyond beauty, enhancing skin, hair, and nails, it supports joints, bones, muscles, gut health, and even cognitive function, which is why it's such a game changer for those stepping into their thirties, forties, fifties, and beyond, as it can rejuvinate all facets of your everyday health. As Davina mentioned, the benefit of taking powdered collagen is that you can tailor the dose to best suit your age, health, and lifestyle. For regular maintenance, Ancient + Brave recommends taking 5–10 grams daily. To make adding this to your daily routine as simple as possible, the Ritual scoop measures 8 grams of True Collagen. To take, you simply add 1 ritual scoop or 1-2 heaped teaspoons to any drink of choice or stir into food. And that's it. But it isn't just Davina McCall who is obsessed with this supplement, which she raved on a recent Instagram Reel, makes "a noticeable difference to my energy, skin and joints". But other accolades come from 5-star reviewers singing this collagen powder's praises. One thrilled shopper says: "Amazing!!! I noticed a difference in my eyelashes and nails the first few weeks after starting this and I can't wait to see more results- already ordered my refill pouch! I have it in my morning cuppa everyday!" Further adoration comes from this buyer who beams: "After taking this in my morning cup of tea for a month, I can see and feel the difference. My skin is fresh and dewy, I feel less foggy - more alert and my bones and muscles feel less stiff after exercise. I highly recommend this top quality product from this amazing company which cares so much about the important things in life for great health." A third chimes in: "I am only 2 weeks in on True Collagen and have noticed a difference in my skin, really interested to see what benefits I see to nails and hair over the coming months." One shopper did share some disappointment, writing: "Great product and I've definitely noticed a difference with my skin, nails and hair growth. I would most certainly recommend. I was disappointed no scoop was provided to measure powder." However, the overall 4.8 out of 5-star rating, with over 2.5k reviews, shows that 2.2k customers bestow full marks. If you're interested in checking out other collagen powder supplements, check out this Gold Standard Bovine Collagen Peptides Powder by Wellgard on Amazon for the more affordable price of £19.19 (400g). Elsewhere, you can find this Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides powder supplement at iHerb for £29.69.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I lost 4 stone in a year but still eat takeaways by changing just two things'
Losing weight is hard but there are a few easy things you can do to shed the pounds - and now I've completely changed my health As soon as I turned 30, I thought my life would now be in decline. The energy of my twenties faded into a distant memory - walking up the stairs felt like an Olympic challenge, going to the shops required the same amount of mental preparation as London marathon runner (I imagine) and, worst of all, I felt the lust for life slipping out of my hands. I weighed 115kg (18 stone, 1lb) exactly one year ago. Compounding the physical difficulties of being medically overweight, my mental health started a sharp decline. Where I would normally walk into a room and be able to talk to anyone, I felt myself hiding in the corners. My patience declined with my loved ones and felt myself snapping at them more, as exhaustion and self-hatred began to squeeze the air out of everything I loved. Clothes clung to my stomach and everywhere I went, I pulled my top away in hopes people wouldn't see. But, exactly one year ago, I had enough of feeling like I wasn't enough. The time for change came - with the assistance of an app. And I lost four stone in that one year, so I now weigh 89.3kg (14 stone). Through all the research, I finally turned my attention to what I assumed was the diet advice flavour of the month: intermittent fasting. The process involves having an 'eating window', typically 16 hours of fasting for eight hours of not fasting, but can be altered to sort the lifestyle, from 14:10 to 12:12. Some people - including the late Dr Michael Moseley - also suggest the 5:2 method of restricting calories to 500 calories for two non-consecutive days. Now, as someone who lives to eat like the parents in Spirited Away, committing to fasting sounds like I might as well chop out my own tongue. But there are several ways to help - one of those is the Simple app, which I have tested out fully here. The app, with the help of the AI Avo, sends notifications to remind you of the fasting window, as well as providing tips and tricks for how to fast, nutrition and more. This is particularly useful for me, a man with a colander where his brain should be. I also made sure I was eating in a deficit - now, this isn't a crazy deficit, nor should it be for anyone planning their own weight loss journey. According to the NHS, the recommended daily calorie intake (for the average person) is 2,500 calories for men and 2,000 for women. Humans need to eat in a deficit to lose weight, so the body uses its fat stores instead of the energy straight from the food. To work out what the deficit should be, you need to look at what your 'Basal Metabolic Rate' is, which can be done via calculators like this from While a technical term, it just means the amount of calories you need for your body to function without including exercise. If you're active, you then need to add a few hundred extra calories. That's where something like a smartwatch helps as it tracks your energy expenditure - I use the FitBit Versa 4. However, Simple guides users through this process and works out how much you need to eat through their quiz. Mine worked out to be 2,400 calories a day to lose 1-2lbs a week. Then, you need to track your calorie intake per day. This was the first of my two major changes that helped me lose four stone in a year at a healthy rate. I know, I know, who can be bothered? This is exactly what I thought, especially as I was using a manual tracker like MyFitnessPal. The app, while free, doesn't have a complete database of food, but I will say the barcode scanner saves a lot of frustration. Simple does have a solution in its capabilities as well - with a photo, Avo can analyse a photo of your food, pull out the ingredients and provide you with a nutrition score. I would love to sit here and tell you that you can eat whatever you want as long as you fast, but if you want the health bonus alongside the aesthetic changes, you're going to have to get the right nutrition. Avo does sometimes mix up the sizes or products in the photo - AI's, a human invention, are fallible like us too - but you can make corrections really easily. To make my life easier, I bulk buy chicken breasts for the week and absolutely drench those bad boys in seasoning. Then by the time I pop one in the air fryer, it's been marinating for long enough to be absolutely delicious. (Aldi pre-mixed seasoning is 89p per pot, you're welcome). I also bulk cook things like Bolognese or chilli so I've always got something ready. But this is where the fun bit comes in: I still ate takeaways every week. I still ate pizza, I still bought myself treats. I limited myself to one big treat a week but the secret is, as long as you are under calories, you can eat whatever you want and still lose weight. I couldn't believe it either. For me, it was making sure I was consistent all week, rather than perfect. If you eat too much one day, don't worry, just pick yourself up the next day instead - don't feel bad, we are all human beings and food is delicious. The next big change I made was getting at least 10,000 steps a day. I do go to the gym four times a week and swim twice a week now, but last year I was going three days and not getting my steps. It's difficult to overstate how much getting my steps in has changed my life - the energy bonus came from this, not going to gym, and it also meant I had the energy to start swimming every week. It's now my favourite activity of the week. For those looking for exercise inspiration, users can try couch to 5k programmes on apps from both BBC Sounds for free and Nike Run Club. Nike Run Club has 4.8 stars out of five on the Apple App Store. One year later, I am healthy and I am much happier. Nothing feels like too much effort - I feel like I can benchpress the sun some days. Not every day will be perfect as no one is. Whenever you get knocked down, pick yourself back up and start again, it's the only way to get towards the healthier and happier life. I still go out drinking once a week (I'm from Essex so trust me when I say... I go out drinking), I still get a kebab or Wingstop. But the rest of the week I am committed. That's how you lose weight and keep it off. I hope you smash it too.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Why thousands of people are missing out on NHS jabs for agonising shingles virus
Widespread confusion over who is eligible for the NHS shingles jab means thousands are going unprotected against the agonising infection, a survey has revealed. The poll found one in five over-65s either did not know what shingles was or were unaware the NHS offered a vaccine to prevent it. Fewer than half said they had been vaccinated, while nearly seven in ten admitted they did not understand who was eligible. More than 50,000 elderly Britons develop shingles every year, and nearly one in four of any age will have it at some point in their lives. The condition is linked to chickenpox – a highly contagious childhood illness that causes itchy, spotty rashes. While chickenpox is usually mild, the virus that causes it – varicella-zoster – lies dormant in the body and can reactivate later in life, especially as the immune system weakens with age. This can cause shingles – a painful, blistering rash that typically appears on one side of the chest or abdomen, but can strike anywhere on the body. Currently, anyone turning 65 is offered a shingles vaccine, and remain eligible until they are 80. But those who turned 65 before September 1, 2023, must wait until they are 70. 'I am not surprised by these findings at all,' said Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia. 'A combination of confusing eligibility criteria – which even confused me, to be honest – and a lack of promotion of the vaccine campaign means that many people are going unprotected from what can be an extraordinarily painful and debilitating virus.' The jab is available privately at high street pharmacies such as Boots and Superdrug – but the two required doses cost £460 in total. 'I'm part of that group who has to wait until they turn 70 for the vaccine, and I did consider going private because of how painful shingles can be,' Professor Hunter added. 'It is a very effective and safe vaccine, and people should make sure they get it as soon as they're eligible on the NHS.' The study of more than 2,000 over-65s by GSK – the British pharmaceutical firm behind the jab – also found that most respondents wrongly believed they were still eligible for the NHS shingles vaccine after turning 80, when that is the cut-off age. A third of respondents also said they did not trust the Government for information on vaccines. Shingles is often accompanied by headaches, nausea and weeks of severe pain – and in some cases it can prove fatal. Around 50 Britons over 70 die from shingles each year. The vaccine reduces the risk of infection by 90 per cent, yet uptake has historically been low – less than half of all 71-year-olds are vaccinated. The latest figures show fewer than one in five of those who turned 65 this year have received the jab. The current two-dose vaccine, Shingrix, replaced a less effective version in September 2023. But due to high global demand, the Government opted to phase in eligibility. As reported by The Mail on Sunday, campaigners have urged ministers to end what they call 'discrimination' against the three million people aged 66 to 69 who are currently ineligible. Senior citizens group Silver Voices has called on the NHS to scrap the age restriction, warning it puts millions at unnecessary risk. One man who regrets missing out on the jab is 72-year-old Daniel Hill. While on holiday in Majorca he noticed a strange rash of blisters, about four inches wide, on his back. Concerned, but not alarmed, he visited a local clinic, where a doctor diagnosed shingles and prescribed antiviral medication. He was offered painkillers, but he declined them. But he said that moments after leaving, the pain struck 'like someone had taken an axe to my back'. The pensioner spent the rest of the trip in agony, confined to bed. 'You really don't want to get shingles,' he said. 'I wish I'd known the vaccine was available on the NHS – I was eligible but had no idea. 'It's so important to check if you qualify and, if you do, get vaccinated to avoid the terrible impact it can have.'
