Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has made a public apology following the inquest into the tragic death of nine-year-old Dylan Cope, admitting the loss was preventable and expressing deep regret over failures in the care he received at the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran. This move comes after a senior coroner found that neglect and a “gross failure of basic care” were responsible for the Newport boy’s death in December 2022.
Dylan Cope, described by his family as a loving and feisty child, died eight days after his parents brought him to A&E, suffering abdominal pain. Despite a GP referral that highlighted “query appendicitis,” crucial notes were reportedly not read by hospital medical staff. As a result, Dylan was discharged, only for his condition to deteriorate fatally due to sepsis, caused by a perforated appendix.
At the inquest held in May 2024, Senior Coroner Caroline Saunders outlined a series of individual errors that led to the mismanagement of Dylan’s case. She concluded that had Dylan remained in hospital for assessment and treatment, his death could have been avoided. Her narrative conclusion was stark: “His death was contributed to by neglect.” The case has shone a harsh spotlight on procedures and communication within the health board’s care system, particularly around recognising and responding to sepsis in children.
Responding to the inquest findings, the health board issued a heartfelt statement acknowledging its full responsibility and deep sorrow. “We want to begin by expressing our deepest condolences and heartfelt apologies to Dylan Cope’s family following the findings of the inquest into his tragic death,” a spokesperson said. “Losing any patient is devastating, but losing a child is beyond words. We cannot imagine the heartbreak Dylan’s family experience.”
The health board outlined a commitment to learning from the tragedy and has already taken steps to improve. In partnership with the UK Sepsis Trust and Dylan’s mother, Corinne Cope, the board is developing a campaign to raise awareness among both staff and the wider public about recognising sepsis—a life-threatening condition that claims five lives every hour in the UK. The campaign aims to ensure cases like Dylan’s are not repeated through sustained education and improvements in clinical practice.
In its statement, the board stressed: “We are determined to learn from this tragedy. We fully accept the coroner’s conclusions and are taking immediate and sustained action… Ongoing improvement work is being undertaken to address the systemic issues highlighted in the inquest. We have already implemented significant changes within our organisation, but we acknowledge that more is needed.”
The voice of Dylan’s family has remained central. In her emotional statement following the inquest, Corinne Cope said, “We have had to fight for answers that to us were painfully obvious. The system is broken and urgently needs change.” She spoke of the lasting pain and the impact on their family of four, after losing their youngest son: “For our child to suffer and die from an easily treatable condition is unimaginable for most parents. This is now our living nightmare.”
The health board’s leadership reiterated that the lessons learned would not be isolated to internal review but would drive a broader focus on the swift recognition and treatment of sepsis across Wales. With greater public awareness and changes in hospital procedure, there is hope that such a preventable loss will not recur.
Cases like Dylan’s have become a rallying call for families, campaigners and health professionals alike to address gaps in communication, training, and prompt identification of serious infections in children.
In closing, the health board also extended its condolences to all families affected by sepsis, acknowledging the far-reaching impacts of this condition beyond Dylan’s case alone. The board’s continued engagement with Dylan’s family and expert partners reflects a new commitment to putting patient safety and care quality at the centre of its operations—an urgent priority that countless families across Wales will be watching closely.