The family of “beautiful” and “caring” Bethan Amy James, 21, claim that medics they encountered before their daughter’s tragic death failed to respond to the gravity of her condition and repeatedly dismissed her symptoms
A “beautiful” and “caring” daughter was “dismissed” countless times by doctors before she died in hospital, an inquest has heard. Bethan Amy James, 21, the daughter of former England cricketer Steve James, was first admitted to hospital on February 8, 2020, and died the following day.
Her sports journalist dad was covering Wales’ Six Nations match in Ireland when his daughter was taken seriously ill. Weather delays prevented him from flying home in time to say his last goodbye. At Pontryppid Coroner’s Court Tuesday, an inquest heard how Bethan had presented to hospital on a number of occasions before February 8.
Speaking at court, her mum Jane James claimed she had been “dismissed” by several members of staff. She believes her “caring and beautiful” daughter’s “life could have been saved” had someone realised the seriousness of her condition.
Bethan – who was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2019 aged just 20 years old – had been studying journalism at the University of South Wales and had hoped of being a voice for people with the illness. She had even started a blog documenting her experiences of the condition, and had been involved in a BBC documentary with Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden, who also has Crohn’s.
Paying tribute to her daughter Mrs James said: “As a person she never moaned, she never made a fuss. She was very caring. She was just beautiful. She put people before herself. She was more interested in other people and their stories and I think that’s why she would have made a brilliant journalist.”
Speaking about the heartbreaking events leading up to her death, Mrs James recalled how her daughter first began complaining of tiredness, and had shortness of breath, with Bethan booking an emergency GP appointment for January 27.
She returned to University Hospital Wales in Cardiff on multiple occasions, but said the doctors they encountered repeatedly dismissed her despite her GP raising an urgent referral.
Over the following days, Bethan’s symptoms worsened, and she had also developed numbness and issues with her right leg. During one of the encounters with a consultant, Mrs James said the doctor was “very, very dismissive”, having said: “You again! You were here on Sunday.
Mrs James claims that it took threats to contact health board seniors before a follow-up appointment was arranged. This was despite Bethan being barely able to walk out of the hospital.
On Saturday, February 8 – with Bethan bed-bound – the family called an ambulance and paramedics arrived, but Mrs James said there was no “rush” to get her daughter to the hospital. Bethan was still classified as not “unwell enough” and had to wait outside the hospital for a bed, Mrs James added.
All the while this was ongoing Mrs James said her daughter was awake, could “hardly breathe” and was “so scared”.
After some time Mrs James said an anaesthetist came down and Bethan was put to sleep. Mrs James said she felt that with that her daughter’s body lost its ability to fight.
She said she was asked to leave the room at around 9.25pm before she was told that her daughter had a cardiac arrest a short time later.
Mrs James recalled being told that medics were working on her daughter and asked if she wanted to be with Bethan as she passed away.
“As soon as I walked in, I knew she was dead,” Mrs James said.
She commented that a sepsis protocol should have been put in place early on and that her daughter “should have had the right care straight away”.
She added: “It’s heartbreaking as a mum to know that her life could have been saved. They didn’t know what they were doing.”
The inquest continues.