A cold could kill my daughter - hospital visits feel like a death sentence

Delia Lodge initiated her campaign after experiencing crowded waiting rooms at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, where her 41-year-old daughter, Rebecca, receives chemotherapy for terminal breast cancer. During evenings and weekends, the hospital's cancer unit is closed, requiring patients like Rebecca to use the general A&E department. Lodge described these environments, with people coughing and receiving positive Covid tests, as feeling like a "death sentence" for her daughter, who is highly vulnerable to infections.

Lodge has gathered 2,500 signatures in support of her call for a dedicated waiting area for cancer patients. While she praises the hospital staff, she emphasizes that the current setup poses a significant risk to immunocompromised individuals. Betsi Cadwaladr health board, responsible for health in north Wales, stated they "fully recognise the concerns raised" and are working to address them. However, officials noted that finding an appropriate space within or near emergency departments that could safely serve as a separate waiting area, while allowing staff to monitor patients, presents a challenge. Cancer Research Wales supports the call for separate waiting areas, highlighting that illness could delay vital treatment for cancer patients.