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Health

Tragic baby Callum’s death was due to ‘acute and severe loss of blood’

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AN INQUEST into the death of a newborn baby from Haverfordwest has determined the cause of death as shock due to an ‘acute and severe loss of blood’.

The inquest into Callum Ragan James’ death on May 5, 2016 was heard at County Hall over a two day period.

Senior Coroner for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Paul Bennett offered his condolences to Callum’s parents Mr and Mrs James from Haverfordwest.

He said: “I cannot imagine how distressed Mr and Mrs James felt when their son did not survive.

“This has been a very difficult inquest to hear. I would like to pay tribute to Mr and Mrs James in their fortitude of this case.”

The inquest heard how on May 5, Ellie James went from Withybush Hospital over to Glangwili Hospital after it was established she was in the early stages of labour, where she was met by midwife Ebba Lewis.

Mrs James was taken to a midwifery led unit at the hospital and was offered the use of a  birthing pool.

It was from there that complications became apparent after a large amount of blood was seen within the pool.

It was decided that Mrs James would be taken to a bed and transferred to the labour-led ward, where there are consultants available. 

Mrs James’ labour was progressing at a speed which thwarted attempts to transport her to the labour-led unit and she gave birth in the midwifery ward.

Mr Bennett confirmed that Callum was born at 11.08pm and at 11.34pm and steps were taken to get his lungs working and circulation started, but efforts to resuscitate him were abandoned at 11.34pm.

Mrs James questioned the judgement of whether she was giving birth in the appropriate ward, due to complications with her first pregnancy, and said she was assured she would give birth to Callum in a labour-led unit.

Mrs James also questioned her own judgement on whether abdominal pain she had experienced earlier in the labour played a part in the fate of Callum.

Family counsel Jodie Kembery, asked whether Mrs Lewis was aware of the pain that Mrs Lewis was experiencing and whether she should have in fact been transferred to the labour-led unit instead.

Giving evidence at the inquest, midwife Mrs Lewis said: “No, because she was not deemed as high risk [on arrival to Glangwili]. There were no signs of deviation from the normal, so she was classed as low risk.

“We asked how she is feeling. I do not recall specifically asking about the abdominal pain.

Mrs Leeves, the senior midwife on duty and who assisted Mrs Lewis with Callum’s delivery was also called upon to give evidence.

Speaking on the delivery, Ms Leeves told the inquest: “I entered, and Mrs James was on the bed with there being concern about blood loss in the pool. I looked at it and was concerned, but Mrs James remained stable so our main objective was to transfer her [to the labour-led ward] to listen to Callum’s heart.”

The speed in which the delivery progressed, halted all plans to transfer Mrs James upstairs to the labour-led unit.

She added: “We felt it was not appropriate to transfer Mrs James to the labour ward.

“There were strong urges to push, which is normal, and we felt there was no time.”

Mrs James told the inquest: “When Callum was born, I was ecstatic. To me he looked perfect. It was not until I saw the midwife’s face that I knew something was not right.”

Dr Patrick Forbes, Consultant Obstetrics and gynaecologist agreed that the decisions that the midwife made that day were right.

Dr Forbes also wrote two reports on the case.

He said: “It was absolutely correct to take Mrs James out the pool and I agree entirely that the appropriate action is to move the patient to the labour ward. However, one of the things I would dread in that situation is getting into the lift and the baby appearing.”

“Mrs James did not identify to be considered high risk in the second pregnancy,” said Dr Forbes, “which meant it was suitable, if she agreed, for delivery in the midwifery unit. It was appropriate for her to stay on the MLU at Glangwili when she arrived.

“The descriptions by Mrs Ebba and Ms Leaves are much in line with standard practice.”

Concluding the case, Coroner Paul Bennett said: “Callum died as a result of hypovolemic shock brought about by an acute and severe loss of blood which occurred during the course of his delivery at Glangwili Hospital on May 5, 2016.”

Health

Phone calls to reduce GP visits for 42% of patients this winter

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NEW research from the Royal Voluntary Service has shown that a simple phone call could significantly impact well-being, reducing GP visits by 42% among patients who receive regular telephone support.

The charity urges those feeling isolated this winter, particularly the elderly, to use telephone support services as a way to improve health and free up GP appointments, potentially reducing waiting times. It is estimated that if people experiencing loneliness in later life reduced their GP visits by just one appointment a year, this could free up 588,000 appointments annually.

As winter approaches, the Royal Voluntary Service reports that isolation can sharply increase, especially for adults over 75, with nearly half (47%) of people in this age group feeling lonelier in the colder months. Among those who live alone, one in six say they feel forgotten during winter, and 20% report having no one to turn to for emotional support.

In addition to loneliness, older generations face several winter worries, including increased heating costs, cited by 55% of respondents, and reduced ability to go out, which 29% said they dreaded as winter sets in.

To address these challenges, Royal Voluntary Service has launched the Stay Safe, Warm and Well campaign in partnership with Yakult. The campaign provides a guide for practical and emotional winter preparation, encouraging sign-ups for telephone support services and offering access to the Virtual Village Hall online community for events and activities. Practical advice on money-saving and energy-saving tips is also available through the guide.

Royal Voluntary Service Ambassador Elaine Paige, who has herself made support calls for the charity, described the positive impact these calls can have. “A warm, friendly phone call can transform someone’s day. Some conversations leave you smiling long after the call ends—something we could all use, especially in winter. For those facing the season alone, there are amazing people ready to remind you that you’re not alone,” she said.

The charity’s support services match volunteers with individuals across the UK for friendly chats, reducing isolation and boosting mental health. Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “The feedback that conversations with volunteers are helping people to visit their GP less is testament to the value of connection.”

Yakult Marketing Manager Reshma Patel added: “Our research with Royal Voluntary Service shows that one in four adults over 75 feel they’d benefit from practical and emotional support over winter. We are committed to helping people access the Stay Safe, Warm and Well guide to support their overall well-being.”

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Health

Over 1500 patients in Wales blocked from leaving hospital

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THE First Minister Eluned Morgan has been pressured on her government’s failure to clear hospital beds in Wales, leading to delays for people seeking urgent medical care.

According to a report from BBC Wales, there are currently 1,600 patients across Wales waiting to be discharged from hospital compared to England where there are currently 12,000.

However, when comparing population sizes, it’s revealed that Wales is performing worse than its closest neighbour, with 0.05% of the population of Wales stuck in hospital beds compared to 0.02% in England.

The Welsh Labour government have been criticised for their failure to clear out backlogs in the system,

The Liberal Democrats have now called on the Welsh Government to provide urgent social care funding to local authorities to help alleviate pressures on the NHS in Wales.

Speaking in the Siambr on Tuesday, The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS described how over twenty years of Welsh Labour government in Wales had let to a “desperate situation in our NHS, with services nearing breaking point.

Welsh Labours refusal to change their approach and fix a system clogged up by mismanagement is directly responsible for the current situation faced by thousands of patients.

Delays in discharging patients from hospitals are placing huge pressures on both staff and those awaiting care, but there is a way out of this mess and the answer lies in social care.

I have been told by numerous professionals working in healthcare that the first step towards fixing our NHS is made by providing local authorities with the funding to fix social care services within their respected areas.

By dedicating adequate investment into our social care services, we can make life easier for patients discharged from hospital while also lifting the strain on health services throughout Wales.”

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Education

Concern over ‘highest-ever’ school bullying rates

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RATES of bullying in Welsh schools have reached record levels, with more than one in three children and young people reporting being bullied, the Senedd heard.

Gareth Davies raised concerns about a 6% increase in bullying between 2021 and 2023, according to a survey of more than 130,000 pupils in 200 secondary schools.

The Conservatives’ shadow mental health minister told the Senedd: “These results are higher than ever previously reported in the survey, which is deeply troubling.”

He said the latest survey showed regression on “just about every metric of pupil wellbeing”, including growing social isolation and a rise in behavioural issues.

Mr Davies, who worked in the NHS in north Wales for more than a decade, pointed to a 2021 legal duty to have regard to the mental health of children and young people.

He said: “The mental health of pupils has declined and reports of bullying in schools have only increased, so the Welsh Government have failed in that duty, unfortunately.”

Plaid Cymru’s Cefin Campbell called for an update to 2019 anti-bullying guidance for school governing bodies following a commitment from the Welsh Government eight months ago.

The shadow education secretary focused on the impact of poverty, warning the high cost of school uniforms can cause stress and lead to bullying.

Mr Campbell, a former lecturer, expressed concerns about penalties, such as detention, for pupils over non-compliance with uniform policies.

Raising a report on “horrific” experiences of racism in Welsh schools, he said one pupil was told a classmate did not want to sit next to them due to the colour of their skin.

“That’s entirely unacceptable in our schools,” said Mr Campbell.

Labour’s Carolyn Thomas warned children’s mental health is at an all-time low, pointing to smartphones and social media as major contributing factors.

She said: “They can be used to bully, manipulate and control, sending young people into an isolated world of despair, not thinking they can get out of it or go to somebody for help.”

The North Wales politician highlighted a petition calling for a ban on phones in schools.

Rhys ab Owen, an independent who represents South Wales Central, stressed that bullying can impact people for decades to come after school.

“But it’s an issue that doesn’t affect learners equally,” he said. “In Cardiff, around a third of learners come from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

“And I was staggered to read a survey from 2020, which said that 61.5% of learners had expressed stereotypes over skin colour, religion and nationality.”

In a statement on November 12 to mark anti-bullying week, Lynne Neagle accepted that bullying continues to be an issue in Welsh schools.

Pledging to prioritise the problem, Wales’ education secretary said new statutory anti-bullying guidance will be published for consultation after Christmas.

Ms Neagle pointed to concerning trends, including 42% of girls scoring high or very high in a questionnaire on psychological problems compared with 27% of boys.

She told the Senedd: “I wouldn’t want to be a teenager growing up today.”

Ms Neagle stated the Welsh Government provided more than £800,000 this year for one of the biggest surveys of children and young people in the UK.

She said: “The link between bullying and mental health is well known. At its most extreme, young people have taken their own lives as a result of being bullied. This is a tragedy for the young life lost, for their family and friends and for whole communities.”

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