A MAN from Bangor would likely still not have survived had images of scans sent from Ysbyty Glan Clwyd to a specialist hospital in Liverpool arrived in a more timely fashion, an inquest heard.

John Ellis Jones died aged 53 at the Bodelwyddan hospital on March 5, 2021.

He had initially been taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor on February 23, having complained of illness and chest pains.

At a full inquest held in Ruthin today (June 12), John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, gave a conclusion of death arising from natural causes.

Mr Jones’ medical cause of death was recorded as multi-organ failure as a result of renal and bowel ischaemia due to aortic dissection, contributed to by left ventricular hypertrophy.

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After being taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd, he was later transferred to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, the centre for vascular surgery in North Wales.

His case was then discussed with doctors at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, the specialist hospital for such cases.

The inquest heard that there was a delay in transmitting images to Liverpool, and Mr Jones underwent surgery at Glan Clwyd instead, but he did not recover from his condition.

Dawn Williams, partner of 15 years to the father-of-five, said in a statement that the former painter and director suffered from high blood pressure and had been diagnosed with gout.

Mr Jones, known as a “big friendly giant” who loved motorbikes, rugby, and arts and crafts, died with Ms Williams by his side in Glan Clwyd at about 5.15pm on March 5.

Richard Griffiths, the duty consultant in charge of Glan Clwyd’s emergency department (ED) on February 23, felt it prudent to start discussions with the cardiothoracic team in Liverpool after scans showed a dissection in the blood supply of his affected leg.

But four hours after Mr Jones’ admission, Dr Griffiths was told that the specialists in Liverpool still had not been able to see images of the scans that Glan Clwyd had attempted to send.

Dr Wisam Taha, the on-call consultant at Glan Clwyd at the time, said he felt he did not have the expertise to perform the surgery Mr Jones required, so also suggested moving him to Liverpool.

Giving evidence, Dr Taha said that, once a patient develops two organ failures, it demands the attention of the specialist centre – in this case, Liverpool.

He said: “All I could do is raise my concerns (to Liverpool), and give my advice if I may, but it’s their final decision which I need to abide by.”

The ITU team at Glan Clwyd was contacting Liverpool on an almost daily basis regarding the next stage of Mr Jones’ treatment, Dr Taha said.

Manoj Kuduvalli, consultant cardiac and aortic surgeon at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, said there was “no single treatment” for the “very complex condition” which Mr Jones had developed.

Mr Kuduvalli added the outcome was “unlikely” to have been different if Mr Jones had been transferred to Liverpool straight away.

Concluding, Mr Gittins said that the issue of delays in images being sent to Liverpool was “incidental”, and that the clinicians’ differing opinions was more central to Mr Jones’ case.

Addressing Mr Jones’ loved ones at the inquest, he said: “He seemed such a character. It struck me that he was someone that I would have liked.

“I’m sure you miss him massively, and you have my very sincere condolences on his passing.

Following the conclusion of the inquest, Ms Williams said: “It’s nice to have a final outcome, so that the children know how he passed away, and that nothing else could have been done.

“We had to wait more than two years to find out; it gives us closure.”