LESSONS must be learned from the official report into the death of mum-of-two Lisa Jane Howells at a Gwent hospital.

Most of us are probably guilty of expecting the National Health Service to run smoothly at all times, providing the best of care to people when they are most in need.

For the most part, the NHS and its staff do a marvellous job.

But when a relatively young woman like Ms Howells dies in questionable circumstances, action must be taken and changes must be made.

Ms Howells was taken into Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny last year.

She suffered from a dangerous diabetic condition but she died after delays to her treatment and after suffering a series of cardiac arrests.

An official report now says the delays in Ms Howells’ treatment were ‘unacceptable’, although it makes it clear it is difficult to know whether the outcome would have been different if she had been treated earlier.

Ms Howells’ family, who say what happened was ‘disgusting’, are not placated by the report and claim there are still unanswered questions surrounding her death.

The health organisations involved have apologised for her death but we hope they take seriously the continuing concerns of Ms Howells’ family and seek ways in which they can be addressed.