A family is struggling to cope with the loss of their grandmother, who they believe suffered through a series of medical mishaps at a hospital. Ninety-year-old Lilian Evans was admitted to Wrexham Maelor Hospital on August 25 after experiencing severe symptoms, including vomiting blood. However, her granddaughter, Rachael Evans, 37, claims that the hospital staff misdiagnosed her with a urinary tract infection (UTI) that she did not have.

Rachael expressed her disbelief at the level of care her grandmother received, which included administering penicillin despite Lilian’s allergy and making serious diagnoses of cancer and Parkinson’s disease without informing the family. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has since issued an apology for these oversights.

Lilian was known as an independent woman who enjoyed walking her King Charles Spaniel, Meg. She had just celebrated her 90th birthday a week before her hospitalization and continued to maintain an active lifestyle even after the loss of her pet. Rachael noted that due to dementia, Lilian provided incorrect information upon her admission—a fact Rachael learned only after requesting her grandmother’s medical records posthumously.

Rachael pointed out that there were no tests confirming a UTI and criticized the hospital for ignoring more pressing symptoms like blood vomiting. Furthermore, she noted that Lilian had been fully continent before her hospitalization but was found in an adult diaper upon their visit the following morning.

Rachael raised concerns about the nutritional drinks given to her grandmother, as cream-based ones caused stomach issues despite repeated requests for juice alternatives. Compounding these issues was the lack of security for Lilian’s medications, which were stored in an unlocked cabinet—despite numerous requests for better management.

Tragically, during Lilian’s stay, another patient tested positive for COVID-19. On September 18, Lilian tested positive as well; however, subsequent notes indicated this result was mistakenly logged. Rachael believes this mismanagement led to unnecessary blood-thinning treatments that exacerbated Lilian’s condition, resulting in her death on September 20 due to pneumonia.

The family’s review of Lilian’s hospital records revealed she had been placed on an intensive cancer management plan without their knowledge and contained alarming discrepancies about diagnoses and assessments performed by staff.

Despite multiple complaints and a meeting with health board officials who promised to investigate, Rachael reported receiving no satisfactory answers regarding her grandmother’s treatment or the circumstances surrounding her passing. The prolonged uncertainty has made it difficult for the family to mourn their loss fully. In response to the situation, Carol Shillabeer, chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, expressed regret over the failures in care provided to Ms. Evans' family and indicated that the case has now been referred to the ombudsman for further inquiry.