Morriston Hospital, Wales (Image: Getty)
A father who has spent 35 years fighting for justice after the death of his ten‐year‐old son has been given fresh hope after a meeting with a minister.
Will Powell recently met with Jo Stevens, the Secretary of State for Wales, alongside legal expert Dr. Michael Powers KC, to push once again for an investigation. Ms Stevens has pledged to support Mr Powell, promising to approach the Cabinet Office and Ministry of Justice with the case in considering his request for a statutory inquiry.
According to official minutes of the meeting, Jo Stevens pledged to advance the case and acknowledged that it played a “significant role in the introduction of ‘Robbie’s Law,’ in 2014 – known as the duty of candour – which requires public bodies to be open and transparent about mistakes.
During the meeting Dr. Powers, a leading clinical negligence lawyer, described Robbie Powell’s case as “the worst example of injustice I have ever encountered.” He insisted an inquiry was the only way to uncover the full truth and hold those responsible to account.
Robbie Powell died aged 10 due to medical neglect (Image: Rowan Griffiths )
William Powell has spent decades seeking accountability following the death of his son Robbie, in 1990 following a failure to diagnose and treat a rare but treatable condition. William Powell, 71, and his wife Diane, 69, say they have both been suicidal over the tragedy and subsequent alleged cover up. William, who has battled post-traumatic stress disorder, was unable to work for 25 years, and his wife was prescribed sedatives for over 20 years.
Robbie Powell, a ten‐year‐old from Ystradgynlais, south west Wales, suffered from Addison’s disease – a disorder that prevents the adrenal glands from releasing essential hormones.
Despite suspicions of the condition dating back to December 1989, records indicate that in the final 15 days of his life, he was seen by five different doctors on seven separate occasions, but none initiated the necessary tests or treatment.
Six years after Robbie’s death, the NHS accepted negligence had occurred at Morriston Hospital in Swansea. An initial police inquiry found insufficient evidence to justify criminal proceedings against the doctors involved – a group that coincidentally included medics also employed as police surgeons, raising questions over potential conflicts of interest.
Jo Stevens MP promises to help grieving father (Image: Getty)
Persistent efforts by William Powell prompted a reinvestigation by a senior detective from West Midlands Police. This led to a recommendation of 35 possible charges against five doctors and one secretary after evidence emerged that documents had been falsified. One secretary admitted during the inquiry she had been instructed to type a backdated referral note designed to create a misleadingly positive impression of the care provided to Robbie.
In 2003, the Crown Prosecution Service acknowledged there was evidence some of the doctors involved had been negligent, grossly negligent, or implicated in forgery and perverting the course of justice. Despite these findings, it decided not to pursue criminal charges, citing the considerable lapse of time since the incident.
Over the past three decades, the case has been the subject of numerous inadequate investigations, inquiries, and legal reviews, yet Mr Powell says no one has been held accountable.
Sir Rob Behrens, former Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, has now picked up the cause and is calling on Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales to carry out a full, independent public inquiry. In a letter to her he states: “In my view there would be immense value in a public inquiry being held to document and learn from one of the worst examples of avoidable death, service failure, shoddy treatment, maladministration and cover-up that I have come across.”
William Powell, father of three, said: “It’s bad enough losing a child and having to cope with that and keep going. But to go through what we’ve been through has pushed us to the edge and at times we have laid in bed considering taking our lives. I have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and my wife has been on sedatives for two decades.”
Crown Prosecution Service admitted failings (Image: Getty)
Timeline:
1990: Robbie died due to gross medical negligence, despite his Addison’s disease being suspected months earlier.
1992: A Welsh Office appeal collapses under claims of document tampering.
1995: William Hague, then Secretary of State for Wales, admits crucial medical records had been received by the Welsh Office before the appeal, contradicting previous denials.
1996-2003: Multiple investigations, inquiries, and legal reviews yield no accountability, despite evidence of wrongdoing.
2024: A long-awaited legal review set up by the Director of Public Prosecutions in 2014 finds serious failings by the CPS but offers no remedy.
William & Diane Powell’s 35 year fight for justice (Image: Rowan Griffiths )
William Powell, wants justice for son, Robbie (Image: Rowan Griffiths )
Nick Price, Director of Legal Services at the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Our thoughts remain with the parents and relatives of Robbie Powell following his tragic death nearly 35 years ago.
“The independent review, conducted by three barristers, found that it may have been possible to bring a prosecution against two individuals connected to the case in relation to perverting the course of justice and perjury at an earlier stage.
“We would like to apologise for the manner in which the case was considered by prosecutors between 1994 and 2000, which fell below the expected standard and potentially prevented this from happening.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions has written to Robbie’s father, Mr William Powell, to offer his sincere condolences and respond to recommendations made by the Independent Assessor of Complaints.”
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