Beth’s Story commended by Medical Journalists Association

On Wednesday evening “Beth’s Story” was commended by the Medical Journalists Association (MJA) in the investigative reporting / broadcast category of the MJA Winter Awards. The film made by Murray Anderson-Wallace and Roland Denning, was one of three finalists and was up against stiff competition from Fergus Walsh (BBC News Health Correspondent) and Matthew Hill (BBC Points West Health Correspondent), who was the eventual winner.

The category was judged by Branwen Jeffreys (BBC News), Nick Timmins (Financial Times and former MJA Health Journalist of the Year) and Andy Coghlan (New Scientist).

On commending the film the judges said “This is a harrowing 15 minute face to camera account of a relatively routine operation that went terribly wrong – narrated by Bethany’s mother Clare Bowen – and of how appallingly the NHS and the coroner’s system dealt with the consequences. Give that there is only one voice and no balancing one from the hospital or medics involved you could question whether this is a piece of campaigning rather than of pure journalism. But either way it is a remarkable film and we’d urge you to see it. It is immensely powerful and lives on in the memory long after viewing”

Murray Anderson-Wallace (Exec Producer, PATIENTSTORIES) said of the commendation “We are delighted that “Beth’s Story” has been commended by the MJA. This film is first and foremost, a testament to the courage and determination of the Bowen family and in particular to Clare Bowen, Beth’s mum who continues to use her families tragic experience to create constructive cultural change – she is an inspiration. I am also indebted to my colleague Roland Denning with whom I made this film. The quality of his film-making – a hallmark of all our work together -was commented on by the judges and deserves due credit”