News

“Significant failures” at Withybush Hospital led to 92 year old being discharged with fractured ribs and punctured lung

Published

9 years ago

August 4, 2016

withybushhosp AN INQUEST last Thursday (Jul 28) has concluded that there were “significant failures in the diagnosis and treatment” of 92 year old Dorothy Violet Mancey, of Kings Terrace, Newport, who was sent home from Withybush Hospital with fractured ribs, a punctured lung and a cannula in her arm.

On March 24, 2013, Mrs Mancey fell in her home and paramedics were told that she had pain on the right side of her chest, which lead to them identifying bruising and reddening.

Upon arrival at the hospital, she was examined by a triage nurse who prescribed her a blood thinner, warfarin. The on-call doctor recorded this prescription and requested to see x-rays of Mrs Mancey’s injuries.

She was referred to a senior colleague as the staff had trouble interpreting the results of these x-rays and was later discharged at 5:45am. Her records were updated to say that nothing abnormal had been found and she was prescribed diclofenac, which is an anti-inflammatory.

Her daughter, Cynthia Fells, accompanied her during her visit to the hospital.

The x-rays actually showed that Mrs Mancey had several rib fractures and a puncture of the lung – pneumothorax.

Once she had returned home, Mrs Fells realised that a cannula was still in her mother’s arm and the district nurse was called so it could be removed safely. The district nurse then told Mrs Mancey that it would not safe for her to take diclofenac as it should not be mixed with warfarin.

This lead to concerns that the x-ray had not been properly explained to the family and the district nurse contacted Mrs Mancey’s GP, who suggested she return to the hospital. The GP also looked at the x-rays herself and contacted the hospital to inform them she believed the x-rays had been misread and that the diclofenac prescription was not safe.

According to Mrs Fells, her mother refused to return to the hospital following her GP’s advice because of the poor treatment she had already received.

On April 3 the GP visited Mrs Mancey in her home where it was agreed that she should be admitted to the Parc y Llyn nursing home.

As her health worsened, she was re-admitted to Withybush Hospital on April 12. She died on April 23.

The solicitor for Hywel Dda University Health Board, Claire Rawle, said at the inquest that a full investigation into the care given to Mrs Mancey was carried out and all of the issues identified from her case had been acted upon, which included additional training to identify fractures and ensure patients are discharged correctly.

Maggie Hughes, the solicitor for Mrs Mancey’s family, said: “When Mrs Mancey was admitted it was hoped these measures would have been in place and been acted upon that night. What will give them some comfort is that these inactions are not repeated in the future.

Mandy Davies, Interim Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “We wish to offer our sincere condolences to Ms Mancey’s family for their loss. We have formally responded to the family to unreservedly apologise for the failings in the Health Board’s treatment provided to Ms Mancey in 2013 and for the distress caused to her and her family.

“We have undertaken a thorough investigation which revealed shortcomings in our management of Ms Mancey’s care, and in the discharge process.

“We wish to reassure Ms Mancey’s family that we have taken this matter extremely seriously and took immediate action to address the issues, which include improvements to our discharge processes and a programme of training on the interpretation of x-rays for medical staff.”

Mark Layton, Coroner, concluded the inquest saying there had been “significant failures in the diagnosis and treatment” that Mrs Mancey had received.

He commented on the changes implemented by the health board, saying: “If this situation emerged today, it would have been addressed in a different way”

Crime

Teenager charged following rape allegation at Saundersfoot nightclub

Published

2 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Staff Writer

Incident reported at Sands Nightclub in early hours of Sunday

DYFED-POWYS POLICE is investigating an allegation of rape following an incident reported at Sands Nightclub in Saundersfoot in the early hours of Sunday (Dec 14).

An 18-year-old man was arrested after officers were called to the venue, which is a popular late-night spot in the seaside village. The allegation relates to events said to have taken place during the early hours of the morning.

Joshua Probert, aged 18, has since been charged with one count of rape. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Dec 18).

The complainant is entitled to lifelong anonymity under law, and no further details about the allegation can be reported at this stage.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that enquiries are ongoing. Officers are understood to have carried out initial investigative work shortly after the report was made, including speaking to witnesses.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.

Anyone affected by sexual assault or rape can contact the 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line, run by Rape Crisis England & Wales, on 0808 500 2222. Calls are free and confidential.

Local Government

Mayor visits Milford Haven Library Christmas event

Published

3 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE MAYOR of Milford Haven, Cllr William Elliott, paid a visit to Milford Haven Library on Tuesday morning to attend its festive Mince Pie and a Cuppa event.

The event brought together library staff and local residents, with the Mayor thanking staff for their work supporting the community throughout the year. During the visit, Cllr Elliott also spent time speaking with residents who had come along to the event or were visiting the library to borrow books.

Milford Haven Library is part of the Pembrokeshire Libraries service, which provides access to books, information, and community activities across the county.

The Mayor wished residents a Merry Christmas at the close of his visit.

Crime

Milford Haven man jailed after drunken attack on partner and police officers

Published

3 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

A MILFORD HAVEN man who launched a violent drunken assault on his partner before attacking two police officers has been jailed for three years and six months.

Alexander Campbell was sentenced on Wednesday (Dec 16) at Swansea Crown Court after admitting causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard that Campbell had been in a relationship with his partner, Miss Cox, for six years. On the night of the offence, he returned home highly intoxicated and became argumentative.

***Alexander Campbell was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court, with the judge describing him as a “cowardly bully.”***

Prosecutor Rieve Nesbitt-Marr told the court that Miss Cox advised Campbell to go upstairs and sleep off the alcohol. Instead, he began poking her and told her not to tell him what to do.

Campbell then launched what Miss Cox described as “a flurry of punches that rained down on her.”

Neighbours contacted police after hearing the disturbance. When officers arrived, they found a smashed bowl on the floor and Miss Cox lying on the sofa under a blanket, covering her face.

Body-worn camera footage played in court showed Campbell threatening officers, telling them: “I will turn this place into a f***ing murder scene.”

As officers attempted to separate the parties, PC Thomas placed her arm out to create distance. Campbell grabbed her wrist with force, an assault captured on body-worn video.

He then attacked PC Jones, climbing on top of him and punching him repeatedly, again recorded on police body-worn footage.

PC Thomas later attended Withybush Hospital, where she received four stitches under local anaesthetic. Miss Cox suffered severe facial bruising, with one eye swollen almost shut.

The court was told that Miss Cox’s ten-year-old daughter was upstairs at the property during the incident.

Campbell has 27 previous offences. In mitigation, the court heard that he accepted alcohol turned him into a different person, telling the court: “I’m an ugly person when I drink. I’m a different person when I’m sober.”

Sentencing Campbell, the judge said he knew better than anyone how alcohol affected him.

“You came home in a bad mood and almost predictively, you assaulted her,” the judge said.
“The noise and aggression was such that the neighbour called the police.”
“You gave her a bruise on her face that can only be described as a large shiner.”
“In short, you have injured three people. Your conduct was utterly pathetic, like an overgrown child.”

The judge also referred to Campbell’s violent history, describing him as a “cowardly bully.”

While acknowledging that Campbell had previously complied well with a suspended sentence after removing his own alcohol tag, the judge said custody was unavoidable.

Campbell was sentenced to three years and six months in prison, with half to be served in custody and the remainder on licence.

Warning him about his future, the judge added: “If you carry on with this behaviour you will spend a lifetime in prison. The only person who can change this is you.”

The court also granted a restraining order for five years.