Parents of girl who died months after premature birth still awaiting answers

Annie-Jo Mountcastle, along with twin sister Florence-Rose, was born on February 5, 2017, which was 12 weeks prior to their due date.

The twins remained in hospital until late April, but Annie-Jo sadly died at her family’s home near Llanfair Talhaiarn on November 17, 2017.

Almost five years later, Annie-Jo’s parents, David Mountcastle and Amy Dean, are still awaiting the conclusion of the inquest into their daughter’s death.

David has had counselling since Annie-Jo’s death, while Amy has also suffered severe mental health issues.

David said: “I’m still fighting now. I rang the hospital the other day to tell them how badly it’s affected me. I didn’t eat for three days afterwards.

“I fell down the stairs on my crutch because I was so worn out with it. It’s hurt me. I’m worried for other people, as well. For about five months, I never spoke to anyone.

“Why would you leave someone four-and-a-half years without an answer?”

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Amy stressed the importance of ensuring that Annie-Jo’s death remains in the public consciousness, given her feelings that the family have been “left”.

She added: “I’m just holding on, waiting, having to think about everything constantly. My community psychiatric nurse has said I can’t move on with my treatment until the inquest because of the ruminating thoughts.

“We’ve just been left. 

“I’ve got to keep it at the front of my mind and go over it all, because it’s so important that we need to try and remember all of the information for the inquest.

“She needs to rest. We just keep thinking about what happened, or when we talk about her, it’s always about what happened, rather than the happy memories with her. “

David and Amy had four children together – Annie-Jo, Florence-Rose (five), Mary-Mae (18) and Dodger (four) – before separating.

Both now live in Prestatyn, and remain on good terms.

Last year, a memorial bench was also erected near the Pantri Bach Cafe on Pensarn Beach, Abergele in memory of Annie-Jo.

Florence-Rose Mountcastle and her brother, Dodger, three, sat on Annie-Jo's memorial bench on Pensarn Beach. Photo: Amy Dean

A plaque on the bench reads: "I wrote your name in the sand, but it washed away. I wrote your name in the sky, but it blew away.

“I wrote your name on my heart it's here to stay. I will love you always baby girl. Love Mummy xxx."

Amy added how Annie-Jo’s death has also been “heart-breaking” for Florence-Rose, her twin sister, who knows “she’s got a twin sister in heaven”.

She added: “It’s heart-breaking (for Florence-Rose to grow up without her), it really is. She talks about her, and we’ve told her about her.

“She was only nine months old (when Annie-Jo died), so I don’t suppose she remembers her, but we show her pictures and talk about her a lot.

“She knows she’s got a twin sister in heaven. It just hurts me too much.”

David and Amy said they have also engaged with Darren Millar, MS for Clwyd West (the constituency in which they lived when Annie-Jo died), and James Davies, MP for Vale of Clwyd (the constitutency in which they now live) for assistance. 

When approached by the Journal, The Coroner's Office could not confirm when the inquest will be heard.

Meanwhile, Cllr Gary Willetts, a member of Conwy Town Council, has called for Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Ysbyty Gwynedd and Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor to become "independent, self-operating trusts".

Cllr Willetts said the hospitals have to "stop trying to treat everybody, from a cut finger up to cancer" at each hospital.

He said: “Some of the incidents that have come to light in the last month, including the BBC investigation into it, give me great concern that the processes at Glan Clwyd are completely unsafe.

“The way forward is for each of those three hospitals (Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Ysbyty Gwynedd and Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor) to become independent, self-operating trusts, like in England.

“They have to stop trying to treat everybody, from a cut finger up to cancer.

“We need to assess what we do – for example, you’d do all hips and knees in one of the hospitals.

“We need about six very competent non-executive directors – people who’ve run companies and businesses – to review the services.

“If I had £10 for every time Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board made an apology, I’d be a millionaire.

"An apology isn’t good enough when people die.”

Gill Harris, Betsi Cadwaladr’s deputy chief executive and executive director of integrated clinical services, said: “Mr Willetts can be assured the vast majority of patients who visit Glan Clwyd Hospital receive good and appropriate care.

“He should direct any detailed proposals for the reconfiguration of health boards to the relevant body; in this case, the Welsh Government.”