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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
‘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.