A grieving family is looking for answers as to why a much-loved dad died in hospital just days before his 40th birthday. Damien Bedford had complained of stomach pains for several months and, after a stool sample was sent off for analysis, was found to have inflammation of the bowel.
But his partner Charlotte Murphy claims his condition was "brushed off" and not taken seriously enough by his GP surgery with one appointment resulting in him being sent away with nothing more than paracetamol. When Damien's health took a further turn for the worse, he went back to his GP again who this time referred him to the accident and emergency department at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW).
Following a very lengthy spell in A&E, where he was allegedly left on a chair for three days before being given a bed on a ward, it transpired that Damien needed to undergo an emergency operation on his bowel. But it proved unsuccessful and he died suddenly on Monday, September 12, at the age of 39.
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Charlotte, his partner of almost 20 years, said the family has not come to terms with what happened to Damien who was a very fit and active person before his stomach complaints started around six months ago. She claims if his concerns had been taken seriously from the very beginning he might still be alive.
"He's missed his 40th birthday, he's left seven kids behind, and I've lost my partner who I've been with for 19 and a half years. It still doesn't feel real. I just expect to be going up the hospital to see him," she said.
"He'd become a skeleton. [In the emergency department] he was in agony. I don't know how he coped at home with it. He needed to be urgently treated but I don't think it was taken seriously enough by the staff in A&E or the GP in the first place."
Charlotte, from Ely, Cardiff, claimed there appeared to be a lack of staff in both A&E and on the ward which both contributed to delays in Damien being assessed and given painkillers. She is now speaking to a coroner to establish the exact cause of his death.
She added that as Damien's family have a history of Crohn's disease and similar inflammatory bowel problems his stomach worries should not have been palmed off in the early stages. "I joked with him on the first night he went into hospital that he should enjoy the peace away from the kids. I never thought in a million years that he wouldn't come home. It's just so shocking," Charlotte added.
"He was a lovely guy. He was one of those really good dads who would take them to the park all the time. As well as having five kids together he also took on my two youngest kids who weren't his. I've got my mother here every day but she's concerned about me. It's only now starting to hit home.
"We had things planned for his birthday on September 21. Me and the kids, my mum, his dad, his sister, and her fiancé were meant to go for a carvery. He'd missed quite a few birthdays as he'd been so unwell so we wanted to make it up to him. It's his daughter's 18th birthday [on Tuesday, October 4]. His energy levels had just gone down and down. In the last week he couldn't even get up the stairs."
In response a spokesman for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: "Our thoughts are with Mr Bedford's family at this extremely difficult time and we offer our sincere condolences. Our bereavement team have been in contact with the family to offer support and advice. If they wish to discuss any aspects of the care received we would urge them to please engage with our concerns team to discuss the specific questions to be addressed."
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