Meet the Team - Cwm Taf Morgannwg
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board & Public Health Wales NHS Trust 
The Cwm Taf Morgannwg Clinical Negligence team deal with a wide variety of claims including delays in diagnosis, incorrect diagnosis, obstetric claims and high value injuries, to name a few. The team also advise and represent their clients at Inquests, advise on matters under the Putting Things Right scheme and assist with general ad-hoc advice.
The Team
Vanessa Llewellyn is the team manager. Vanessa has worked for Legal & Risk since its inception, providing specialist advice on high value claims, including brain damaged babies and spinal injuries. She also represents clients at Inquests.
Kara Bowen deals with a wide variety of claims, including high value claims. In her spare time, Kara enjoys spending time walking her dog along her local beach.
Lydia Walker, originally from landlocked Coventry, deals with a wide variety of clinical negligence matters, with a special interest in colorectal and general surgical cases. She enjoys spending her weekends at the beach walking her dog, Beau. Lydia has recently discovered yoga and specifically enjoys the mediation session at the end (she promises us that the ‘gym member’ found asleep at the end was definitely not her...!). Lydia is addicted to home improvement shows and is constantly coming up with ideas and projects to be completed within the home, much to the dismay of her other half!
Natalie Savage has worked for the team since qualifying as a Legal Executive in 2017. She deals with a variety of claims, particularly those of a sensitive nature, which may lead to Inquests. Natalie actively promotes the CILEx route to qualification in Legal & Risk, co-hosting a working group where she and her colleague encourages junior staff to sign up to CILEx and assists those on their route to qualification. In her spare time, Natalie will often be found baking for family, friends and charity bake sales. She also aspires to keep her house as clean as Mrs Hinch (although could do with a few extra hours in the day to live up to her standards!). Natalie also enjoys travelling, particularly to West Wales, where she enjoys meandering along the beaches and towns.
Alex Burke is due to join the team in September 2019, having recently qualified as a Legal Executive. Alex joins the team from the personal injury department and is looking forward to rolling up her sleeves and getting stuck in to this new area of law. Whilst looking after her young daughter takes up most of her spare time, Alex enjoys walking her dog, reading a good thriller and baking in the little time she has left.
Alun Rees joined the team almost one year ago as a paralegal. He assists the team in investigating various claims, honing his knowledge and skills in all areas of clinical negligence. Alun has recently signed up to study with CILEx, with the aim of qualifying as a Legal Executive within the next few years. Outside of work, Alun plays rugby for Llandovery RFC, who are placed in the Welsh Premiership. He also enjoys travelling.
Claire Sykes is the team secretary, assisting with various administrative and secretarial tasks. Claire has been secretary for the team since 1999. In her spare time Claire enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog and reading. Her ambition is to one day retire to Paignton, where she has had many a happy family holiday.
Geographical Area
The Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board provides health care to over 450,000 people living in Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf. Care is provided at four main Hospitals, Prince Charles, Princess of Wales, Royal Glamorgan and Dewi Sant Hospitals, along with other, smaller Hospitals scattered throughout the Valleys.
Public Health Wales offer a variety of services throughout Wales. Although it does not provide Hospital based treatment, Public Health Wales is a national public health agency which exists to protect and improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities for people in Wales.
Training
The team regularly provides training to clients and clinicians through one-off lectures on various topics as well as attending training days. Some of the training offered in the past include updates on ‘Clinical Negligence’, ‘The Legal Aspects of Immunisations’ and ‘Putting Things Right’.
The team also assists the Health Board with wider issues and has recently advised on a new e-learning consent to treatment training module. This will hopefully inform clinicians on the law surrounding consent and will assist with their day to day practice of obtaining consent.
The team are also committed to understanding medical processes and procedures in as much detail as possible and will regularly arrange and attend medical training sessions alongside Doctors and Nurses. Previous training has included attending a ‘Colorectal Cancer Pathway’ course, where the participants were lucky enough to witness a live laparoscopic operation being performed, and a PROMPT (practical obstetric multi-professional training) course, where the participants were able to assist with mock obstetric emergencies.
By offering and receiving such training, strong relationships are built with the clinicians leading to effective investigations.
Recent news
On 1 April 2019, the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board became responsible for providing services in the Bridgend County Borough Council area, including the Princess of Wales Hospital. The change was mainly an administrative one, with services and staffing remaining unchanged. However, it did result in a change of name to represent the new geographical boundary.
The team are working together with the Swansea Bay University Health Board and the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board to ensure a smooth transition of claims between Health Boards.