Family of boy 9, who died after 'gross failure of basic care finally receive hospital apology: 'We have had to fight for answers'

The University Health Board has issued an apology to the family of nine-year-old Dylan Cope, following an inquest that concluded his death was due to "gross failure of basic care" by staff at Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran.

Dylan tragically passed away after being discharged from the hospital with a perforated appendix. The coroner ruled that neglect at the Grange University Hospital played a part in the untimely passing of the "loving" and "feisty" boy from .

Dylan died on 14 December 2022, eight days after his parents rushed him to with severe abdominal pain. Despite a GP's referral note suspecting appendicitis, which went unread at the hospital, he was sent home.

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At the inquest held in May 2024, reports Senior coroner Caroline Saunders identifying "a number of individual errors" that led to Dylan's wrongful discharge, amounting to "a gross failure of basic care." She concluded that Dylan's life could have been saved had he been kept in for further evaluation, stating: "His death was contributed to by neglect."

On 30 April 2025, the health board issued their public apology. A spokesperson stated: "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.

"Dylan passed away from on 14th December 2022 at just nine years old. His death was preventable, and we fully accept the coroner's conclusions and take full responsibility for the failings in his care.

"Losing any patient is devastating, but losing a child is beyond words. We cannot imagine the heartbreak Dylan's family experience.

"We are determined to learn from this tragedy and make the improvements necessary to ensure this does not happen again. Changes have already been made, but we recognise that there is still more work to do.

"As part of our commitment to preventing future tragedies, we are taking immediate and sustained action. We are working closely with the UK Sepsis Trust to launch a campaign to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of sepsis among both our staff and the public.

"Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency that sadly claims the lives of five people every hour in the UK. Prompt identification and treatment are crucial to saving lives, and raising awareness is vital.

"We are also working in partnership with Dylan's mother, Corinne Cope, who has been instrumental in helping us shape our sepsis awareness campaign and we are incredibly grateful for her support.

"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.

"We are listening to Dylan's family, the coroner's recommendations, and our staff, and we remain committed to learning from this tragedy.

"Losing Dylan to sepsis was devastating – not only for his family but for everyone involved in his care. We also want to acknowledge all the other families who have lost loved ones to sepsis or are living with its long-term effects."

After enduring an emotionally charged inquest in May 2024, grieving parents Corinne and Laurence Cope spoke to WalesOnline, revealing how life has become a continuous nightmare since their beloved son Dylan's untimely passing.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Corinne delivered a powerful statement about the situation at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which oversees Grange University Hospital: "We have had to fight for answers that to us were painfully obvious," she stated. "The system is broken and urgently needs change.

"Dylan was our youngest son, a little boy with his whole life ahead of him. As a family, we have to adjust to being four instead of five. Our circle is forever broken. This pain will last our entire lives, not just through this hearing.

"Dylan is central to all of this. For our child to suffer and die from an easily treatable condition is unimaginable for most parents. This is now our living nightmare."