Mother, 66, collapsed and died in GP's surgery after waiting days for an appointment, inquest hears

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER Published: 17:04, 15 July 2026 | Updated: 17:04, 15 July 2026 A mother collapsed and died in a GP's surgery after waiting days for an appointment, an inquest has heard. Mother-of-two Jaqueline Watkins, 66, tried to get an appointment to be seen by a doctor at the earliest opportunity after 'feeling unwell for several days.' She was eventually booked in for an appointment at 3pm on June 18, but died while sitting in a chair in the waiting room at the GP's practice. The inquest, which opened this week in Newport, heard that despite efforts from medical staff to save her, Ms Watkins was pronounced dead at the surgery. No official cause of death has yet been given, with the hearing adjourned until next March to allow for investigations to be completed. Dog lover Ms Watkins, who lived in Llanyravon, Cwmbran, Gwent, wanted to see a doctor because she was unwell at home. She had called the Llanyravon Surgery, but the earliest appointment they could give her was days later on Thursday, June 18, at 3pm. Ms Watkins attended her appointment and collapsed in the chair while she waited at the GP surgery. Her family have raised concerns that there were 'missed opportunities' in GP care that need to be investigated. Mother-of-two Jaqueline Watkins, 66, collapsed and died in a GP's surgery after waiting days for an appointment, an inquest has heard No official cause of death has yet been given, with the hearing adjourned until next March to allow for investigations to be completed The family said: 'We have many unanswered questions about the advice and care given.' Rose Farmer, Area Coroner for Gwent, confirmed that a post-mortem was carried out and that an inquest will be held in March next year. In an online tribute she was described as a 'lovely lady'. Her daughter Donna said: 'Mum had lived in Llanyravon all her life and leaves behind her devoted partner of 26 years, Keith Berry, and a family utterly devastated by this unexpected loss.'