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Kate Baxter faced heartbreaking restrictions as her husband Paul, after more than four decades of marriage, was dying in a hospital. Paul, who suffered a stroke in December 2025, contracted scabies while hospitalized at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen. During his final days, Kate was only permitted to hold his hand if she wore protective rubber gloves due to the highly contagious skin infestation. The condition worsened his state, as his immune system became compromised, leading to his death in June at the age of 90.
Paul’s diagnosis came too late; although he began complaining of intense itching by February, doctors initially believed the symptoms were an allergic reaction to medication. It took almost three months before medical staff identified crusted scabies, a severe form of the infestation that can carry millions of mites and eggs. Kate herself contracted scabies from Paul and described the experience as agonizing, marked by relentless itching and sharp pains that intensified overnight. She said, “You’ve got an itch, like something you’d have in the middle of the back, and you just simply cannot get rid of it and your skin is constantly in pain.”
Reflecting on the impact of the infection, Kate said it cast a “shadow” over Paul’s last weeks, significantly reducing their quality of time together. She expressed the belief that if Paul had not contracted scabies, his immune system might have been strong enough to resist the pneumonia he also battled. Throughout his hospitalization, Kate was required to use protective gear akin to what medical personnel wore during the COVID-19 pandemic to visit him, which she found distressing. She said, “Holding somebody’s hand with gloves is not good.” Following Paul’s passing, Kate lodged a complaint with the health board regarding the delayed diagnosis, but the board’s chief executive, Phil Kloer, rejected claims of negligence, stating there was no evidence that concerns about the rash had been ignored.
In the wake of this outbreak, several wards at Glangwili Hospital, including Steffan, Cadog, and Teifi, were shut down to manage scabies infections. Additionally, two wards at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli have also been closed recently due to the infestation. The rise of scabies cases across Wales is evident in health data: last year, over 27,000 consultations for the condition were reported through the Common Ailments Service, a sharp increase from just 4,810 consultations two years prior. The Hywel Dda health board continues to implement measures to curb the spread of the infestation and maintain cleanliness within healthcare facilities to protect patients
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