QUESTIONS need to be answered after vulnerable people died scared and alone during the pandemic.

Bereaved families across the UK are calling for answers after thousands of Covid-related deaths across the country.

The Covid-19 Bereaved Families Cymru Group is now calling for a Wales-specific inquiry into the pandemic handling.

Jenny Jones is just one woman who is suffering the loss of a loved one and she believes more could have been done to protect the vulnerable.

Before the first national lockdown in 2020, Jenny’s dad Lee Frederick Rowles decided to shield due to rising fears of the virus.

This meant family visits stopped and shopping was delivered to his doorstep in Holywell as he was vulnerable due to COPD.

However, on March 23, Lee suffered a fall and ended up being rushed to Glan Clwyd Hospital where he was placed on a high-protection ward due to his vulnerabilities.

Jenny said: “He had an old phone so there was no way of facetiming him to give him support. He was on a high dependency unit which meant no-one was able to see him and it was well protected.

“He got better and was then downgraded to Ruthin Hospital. He had a Covid test and was clear and whilst at Ruthin I was able to see him through the window.

“The staff were in PPE but the ward was open. He then became ill very fast.

“He tested positive for Covid and he was moved back to Glan Clwyd to the high dependency ward and we didn’t get to see him.

“On April 18 we got a call to say one person could go and visit as he was at the end of his days.

“It was the most bleak and traumatic journey ever. There wasn’t a soul on the road and I will never forget that.”

Jenny said she was given full PPE and was able to sit with her dad for 15 minutes but fears others were not so lucky as they died alone.

She added: “People weren’t able to say goodbye. He died on April 19 and from there I got on with my grief and joined the Covid support groups.

“I found out that dad had agreed to a DNR (do not resuscitate) which was never discussed with his family and was never brought up before Covid when he’s been ill previously."

Jenny says she has since been suffering from the trauma the family faced after losing their dad in such a way.

She is now one of many urging Wales to have its own inquiry into the handling of the pandemic as ‘older people were left to die’.

She said: “Dad was 70, he was shielding before the lockdown but the minute he went into the public domain he caught it.

“His cards were marked because he was vulnerable. We just feel so let down by Welsh Government, they should have done more to protect hospitals.

“It hit the most vulnerable sadly. I’d like to think we can get our own inquiry as well as a full UK one. I’d like to see people made accountable for decisions made.

“For not acting as quickly as they should. This is nothing against the NHS staff, they did all they could in the circumstances but things like not wearing masks until late in the year.

“In a positive light though, on the first anniversary, Holywell Hospital held a memorial with yellow lights and ribbons and that was a really welcoming and comforting thing they did.”

The Leader previously reported that the Covid-19 Bereaved Families Cymru group has been set up for those families bereaved by decisions taken by the Welsh government before and during the Covid-19 pandemic in Wales.

A group spokesman said: "We are calling on the Welsh Government to start an immediate Wales-specific statutory public inquiry. They deserve to be properly scrutinised - not a footnote in a UK Government inquiry.

"Many of our loved ones acquired Covid-19 whilst in hospital during the second wave. Many then sent home without being retested; spreading infection into the community and subsequently dying.

"In hospitals and care homes PPE was lacking, staff not tested unless symptomatic, ventilation poor and infected patients were knowingly put on non-Covid wards and their movement not restricted."

The spokesman added: "Many were not treated with care and dignity. Many had DNRs placed without consultation with next of kin. Communication was poor or non-existent. Loved ones died confused and alone. Lessons most definitely have not been learnt.

"Responses to our serious concerns regarding their care and subsequent death have been significantly delayed, inaccurate, contradictory or non- existent. This process is woefully inadequate and needs changing.

"A Wales -specific inquiry would provide an independent review to investigate if deaths in Wales could have been prevented.

"As the First Minister has clearly pointed out throughout the pandemic, decisions in relation to the rules surrounding Covid-19 in Wales are made in Wales. He has been keen to highlight the often-significant differences of those rules between England and Wales.

"Decisions taken in Wales, which have had an impact on the people of Wales should therefore be scrutinised in Wales."

More information can be found on the Facebook Page or Twitter handle @cymru_inquiry.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "A UK-wide inquiry will have the capacity and force to oversee the interconnected nature of the decisions that have been made across the four nations and is the best way for the experiences of people in Wales to be properly understood.

"The First Minister has spoken directly to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster about the many specific issues the inquiry must focus on to deal comprehensively with the actions of the Welsh Government and reflect the experiences of people in Wales."

The Leader has since been told that First Minister Mark Drakeford has agreed to meet five families from the group next week.