The devastating case of 21-year-old Bethan James, daughter of former England cricketer Steve James, has brought renewed focus on the dangers of missed sepsis diagnoses within the NHS. Bethan tragically died in February 2020 after repeated medical failings meant the seriousness of her symptoms went unrecognised until it was too late.
Bethan had been living with Crohn’s disease and had experienced a deterioration in her health in the weeks leading up to her death, including numbness, fatigue, and nausea. Despite seeking help on several occasions, she felt dismissed by medical professionals and was reluctant to return to hospital. When she finally did collapse, the emergency response that followed failed her further.
Paramedics who attended her family home in Cardiff did not recognise signs of sepsis and made a non-urgent request for hospital transfer. On arrival at University Hospital Wales, she was not triaged for resuscitation and was instead left in a general assessment area. It was only when tests later revealed how unwell she was that she was moved to the resuscitation area—by then it was too late. Bethan suffered a fatal cardiac arrest shortly after.
An inquest into her death concluded that earlier recognition and escalation could have saved her life. The coroner found that multiple delays contributed to her death and that she may well have survived had she been prioritised appropriately.
Bethan had ambitions of being a journalist and raising awareness of Crohn’s disease. She had even documented her health journey for a BBC documentary. Her family have since spoken out about the need for systemic change in how healthcare professionals recognise and respond to sepsis, calling for initiatives like Martha’s Rule to be introduced in Wales.
Bethan’s case is not isolated. Delays in recognising sepsis can have catastrophic consequences, especially when symptoms are dismissed or misinterpreted.
Late Diagnosis of Sepsis and Compensation?
Be aware, and be alert as every minute counts. If you or a loved one has been affected by a delay in the diagnosis or treatment of sepsis, you may be entitled to compensation. We encourage you to read our main sepsis information blog for more details: sepsis misdiagnosis claims.
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