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Inquiry call over methadone baby Review into methadone baby case
(about 6 hours later)
A councillor has called for an inquiry into the "shocking case" of a mother in Gwynedd who bottle fed her baby the heroin substitute methadone The family of a mother who added the heroin substitute methadone to her baby's bottle say they believe Gwynedd social services could have done more.
Nia Wyn Jones, 30, of Caernarfon, was jailed for three years after a judge heard she added potentially lethal amounts of the drug to milk. Nia Wyn Jones, 30, of Caernarfon, was jailed for three years after her child was given potentially lethal amounts.
Peter Read, vice chairman of Gwynedd council's care scrutiny committee, said lessons could be learned. A spokesperson said "her family were there for Nia" but felt "the support on offer was not sufficient."
The hospital where the baby was treated said staff acted quickly. A senior councillor earlier said social services were under pressure. A "comprehensive review" is promised.
Judge Merfyn Hughes at Caernarfon Crown Court heard the baby was being given the equivalent of a "full bag of heroin" every day.Judge Merfyn Hughes at Caernarfon Crown Court heard the baby was being given the equivalent of a "full bag of heroin" every day.
The mother's actions were uncovered when the baby was admitted to hospital on Christmas Eve.The mother's actions were uncovered when the baby was admitted to hospital on Christmas Eve.
The judge told Jones: "You could easily have killed her. She's lucky to have survived."The judge told Jones: "You could easily have killed her. She's lucky to have survived."
This is a very distressing and shocking case, but we must recognise that the circumstances appear to be isolated Gwenda Thomas AM, social services minister
She had admitted supplying methadone and ill-treating the child.She had admitted supplying methadone and ill-treating the child.
The serious question is should it have been detected in the baby any earlier? Doctor Richard Pates, clinical director of the Drug & Alcohol Services in Cardiff Councillor Peter Read, vice chairman of Gwynedd council's care scrutiny committee, said it was a "shocking case".
But he said social services were under a lot of pressure and realistically could not be expected to keep track on everyone, especially if they were trying to avoid being picked up.
He said he thought there could be lessons for the department.
The family in a statement said: "We tried to get Gwynedd council's social services to help her, and feel that the support on offer was not sufficient."
In a statement, Det Ch Insp Peter Gaffey, vice chairman of Gwynedd and Anglesey's local safeguarding children board confirmed that the child became known to Gwynedd council's social services on 4 January.
"In accordance with all Wales child protection procedures, a child protection conference was held immediately," he said.
"We can confirm that the child is now in the care of the council."
The baby had been given methadone since being born, the court heard
Det Ch Insp Gaffey said a "comprehensive review" would establish if further steps needed to be taken "and if lessons can be learnt".
Gwynedd council said it had no further comment to add to the statement.
Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas AM called it a "very distressing and shocking case."
But she added: "We must recognise that the circumstances appear to be isolated. The local agencies with child protection responsibilities will be urgently reviewing the particular circumstances and will be considering next steps.
"I will ensure that the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales maintains close contact with that process."
Black market
The court heard that Jones, a drug user, had obtained the methadone on the black market, in an attempt to get herself off heroin.The court heard that Jones, a drug user, had obtained the methadone on the black market, in an attempt to get herself off heroin.
Councillor Peter Read said social services were under a lot of pressure and realistically could not be expected to keep track on everyone, especially if they were trying to avoid being picked up.
But he said he thought there could be lessons for the department.
The baby was treated at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor and a spokesman for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which runs the hospital, said: "All health staff involved have been exceptional in their observations of the baby and acted quickly, with the baby's well being as the complete focus of their attention."The baby was treated at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor and a spokesman for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which runs the hospital, said: "All health staff involved have been exceptional in their observations of the baby and acted quickly, with the baby's well being as the complete focus of their attention."
Dr Richard Pates, clinical director of the Drug and Alcohol Services in Cardiff, said it was "a very serious case."
"The serious question is should it have been detected in the baby any earlier?" he told BBC Radio Wales.
"Nasty case"
"It would not necessarily have been easy to detect in the child except the child, one would have thought, would have been unusually placid which would have been the effect of taking methadone.
"It's a bit of a surprise it was not picked up by health visitors before then but I would not want to lay the blame at them because it's too easy without knowing the circumstances."
But he added: "We must be carful not to over-react and think this is happening all over Wales.
"I think this is a very isolated case and a very nasty case."
The court was told medical teams had to continue treating the child with other opium-based drugs, because she had developed a dependency on the methadoneThe court was told medical teams had to continue treating the child with other opium-based drugs, because she had developed a dependency on the methadone
It heard there remained a risk of permanent damage to the baby's brain but that would only be established as she grew up.It heard there remained a risk of permanent damage to the baby's brain but that would only be established as she grew up.