Parents claim premature twins were exposed to red diesel fumes in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd unit

Parents of babies on a special care unit have been assured that their children have been “caused no harm” amid concerns about toxic fumes seeping through open windows while construction work was taking place outside.

An investigation was carried out at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd after David Mountcastle and Amy Dean feared their premature twins Annie-Jo and Florence were exposed to red diesel fumes.

The couple from Abergele say they repeatedly raised concerns windows on the ward were being kept open and claim their children, born almost 12 weeks prematurely weighing 2lb 2oz and 2lb 1oz respectively, were “doing well,” before being moved to a different room where they spent around five weeks.

A Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board spokesman said: “The concern raised has been fully investigated, and clinical expert advice has provided assurance that no harm has been caused to babies as a result of the neighbouring construction work.”

According to the couple shortly afterwards, the twins’ “eyes were swollen” and at 28 days old, they were diagnosed with chronic lung disease.

David, an asbestos supervisor, said he believes their condition deteriorated because they were exposed to fumes, but the health board insists no harm was caused to the babies as a result of the building work.

Signs appeared on some windows around a month after the couple made their complaint saying: “Please do not open the windows whilst building work is in progress.”

The health board say that is because because building work escalated in that area and was not as a result of the complaint made by the couple.

Speaking to the Daily Post, David said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw the windows of the ward were open where there are very sick babies when there was so many diggers, excavators, generators and cranes outside, you could smell the fumes when you walked in.

“I voiced my concerns to staff and the doctors and even spoke to the building site manager, who told me he’d repeatedly asked the hospital to keep them shut.

“We’ve had around five meetings about this and yet windows were still being left open.”

The work, which is being carried out by BAM Construction, is to build a new £18m sub-regional neonatal intensive care centre, expected to open next year.

His partner Amy added: “Within a few days of being born, the girls were off all the breathing equipment, they were both doing well until they were moved to another room of unit.

“Then all of a sudden, they were on antibiotics and put back on the tubes because they were in respiratory distress.

“Their eyes were swollen and at 28 days old, we were told they had chronic lung disease.

“As soon as the windows were shut, they started to get better.

“Not only that but the staff started washing the incubators and scrubbing the walls.

“I have had it written on the children’s medical records that I believe that they have bronchiolitis obliterations due to the fact they have been exposed to nitrogen dioxide for a long period of time.”

The twins were discharged on April 26 – the day before their due date and are “very snuffly” and struggle to breathe when feeding, according to the couple.

The family lodged a complaint with the concerns team when the twins were moved a week after their birth on February 5 and received a letter on April 25 telling them their complaint was still under investigation and apologising the matter wasn’t dealt with within the 30-day standard time frame.

David and Amy are now awaiting a meeting with estates staff at the hospital.

Amy added: “On one side of the hospital, they had signs up telling people not to smoke outside, yet on the other side, windows were being kept open letting all these fumes in.

“Our babies were already vulnerable due to being born prematurely, they hadn’t even been outside but were being exposed to this pollution.

“We fear they could have long-term health problems now because of this.”

A health board spokesman added: “We can provide complete reassurance to parents with babies in our neonatal unit.

“Measures are being taken to minimise temporary disturbance from noise, dust and disruption to families and babies within the neonatal unit while the new unit is built.”

BAM Construction have also been asked to comment.