A woman being treated for a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection claims she was left lying on a bench in a hospital Costa Coffee. The 31-year-old alleges she was left cold and without a blanket at Morriston Hospital in Swansea because there were no beds available, despite being so unwell she was being assessed for a recurrence of a serious bowel infection.
Rebecca Louise Evans, a self-employed barber from Beddau, says her life has been turned upside down after developing a potentially life-threatening bowel infection following several courses of antibiotics prescribed for a dental problem.
Complaint lodged with health board
Swansea Bay University Health Board said they have received an official complaint from Ms Evans and is investigating her concerns. A Swansea Bay University Health Board spokesperson said: "We are very sorry to hear of Ms Evans' concerns regarding the standard of her care."
"We can confirm we have now received a complaint. As this matter is currently being investigated, we are not able to comment any further at this time. However, we will be responding to Ms Evans directly with a full update following the completion of our investigation."
Diagnosis after weeks of seeking help
The patient claims it was only after weeks of seeking medical help that she was diagnosed with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), a bacterial infection which can cause severe diarrhoea and inflammation of the bowel. Eight months on, she says she is still recovering, has been unable to return to the working life she once knew and has been left with lasting psychological trauma.
"I genuinely think if I didn't keep going, I would have died," she said. Her ordeal began in February when she visited her dentist after experiencing tingling in her face, initially believing she was suffering from sinus problems.
As her condition continued to worsen, she repeatedly attended A&E at Morriston Hospital. She alleges doctors checked her blood results and discharged her on multiple occasions. With no hospital beds available, she says she was left lying on a bench in the hospital's Costa Coffee area, cold and without a blanket, while waiting to be assessed. She says a nurse eventually came out into the coffee shop to take her blood pressure and other observations.
"Honestly, it's been horrendous. So demoralising. Having your obs taken in Costa," she said.
Admission and ongoing recovery
After nine days of worsening diarrhoea, a stool sample eventually revealed she had contracted C. diff. She claims she was given little information about the diagnosis, its seriousness or what to expect during recovery. She says a doctor told her parents the infection was highly contagious before discharging her home.
It was only after speaking to an out-of-hours doctor, who recorded a temperature approaching 39C, that she says she was finally admitted to hospital. She recalls grabbing the doctor's hand and begging to be kept in. "I had to beg and cry to him to admit me to hospital. I said, 'I've been coming for three weeks. I'm so bad. I am going to die'."
She was admitted to the acute medical unit and given different treatment, including fidaxomicin, another antibiotic used to treat C. diff. Before becoming ill, she regularly worked 10 to 12-hour shifts as a self-employed barber, went to the gym three times a week and enjoyed an active social life.
She says she has lost a significant amount of weight, has been unable to work consistently and has lost substantial income. "I've lost so much money. I'm a shadow of who I used to be," she said.
Fear of seeking treatment
She also says the experience has left her frightened of seeking medical treatment, particularly when she needs antibiotics. C. diff can develop when antibiotics disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in the gut, allowing the infection to multiply. Symptoms can range from mild diarrhoea to severe and potentially life-threatening complications. People who have previously had C. diff can be at risk of recurrence, making future antibiotic treatment a particular concern.
Now aged 31, she says she has lost confidence in the healthcare system and worries about what might happen to patients who do not have family members to advocate for them. "I've got no trust. You go to hospital to get better, and for them to look after you," she said. "You don't go to hospital saying this is what I think is wrong with me. You go there to get better."
