Families of two new mothers who died with herpes after a caesarean section

The families of two new mothers who died with herpes after the same surgeon performed caesarean sections on them have criticized the NHS trust for “disgraceful behaviour” as they continue their five-year “fight for answers”.

Kimberly Sampson, 29, and Samantha Mulcahy, 32, died of herpes in 2018 shortly after giving birth after the same obstetrician performed a C-section on them.

They died six weeks apart at hospitals run by the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust (EKHUT), prompting an inquest into their deaths to see how the mothers became infected with the virus and their aftercare.

At the inquest at Maidstone today, coroner Catherine Wood said it was “unlikely” the surgeon was the cause of the herpes infection in both women and ruled out any culpability of the medical staff involved.

However, he said “suspicions should have been raised” with Ms Mulcahy’s case as staff would have already been aware of Ms Sampson’s earlier death, adding that antiviral treatment should have been given to both women earlier. women.

Kimberly Sampson, 29, died at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate in May 2018 and died later in the month in a London hospital after giving birth to her second child.

Speaking after today’s hearing, Ms Mulcahy’s heartbroken mother Nicola Foster and stepfather Mark Trainer criticized the coroner’s summary as incorrect.

Speaking after the hearing, Ms Mulcahy’s heartbroken mother Nicola Foster and stepfather Mark Trainer criticized the coroner’s summary as incorrect and said they will not abandon their search for the truth for five years.

She said: ‘It has become very apparent during this investigation that we were never going to get to the truth as to why the trust covered us up and shut us out at every opportunity.

“They have tried to punish us for receiving help from the BBC…Trust has been false, dismissive and trusted staff members, including surgeons, have behaved arrogantly, defensively as if they were untouchable.”

“Both families will always believe that Kim and Sam’s death was due to something they picked up once at the hospital and we have no reason to believe otherwise,” added the grieving mother.

Ms Foster referred to an expert witness called by the coroner and said she thought the coroner’s decision had been “based solely on her testimony and part of the summary was incorrect”.

She said she would continue to fight for the conclusion of the investigation, adding that the family “can’t give up yet” as they “don’t feel like we’ve gotten to the real truth.”

Ms Sampson died at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate in May 2018 and died at the end of the month in a London hospital after giving birth to her second child. Less than two months later, Mrs Mulcahy, a new mother, died at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent.

The coroner said: “This is a rare but often fatal disease and more needs to be done to raise awareness about it.”

Ms Sampson’s parents, Yvette and Louis Sampson, also spoke after the inquest, saying they will “always be angry and upset” at what they had to do to get to the truth.

The two women died six weeks apart in hospitals run by the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust. Pictured: Mrs. Mulcahy on her wedding day.

Today, at the inquest at Maidstone, the coroner said it was “unlikely” that the surgeon was the cause of the herpes infection in both women. In the photo: Mrs. Sampson

“All the evidence suggests that early recognition is more likely to lead to a positive outcome.”

The inquiry previously heard in April how the surgeon, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, could have been a potential source of the infection. But the surgeon told the inquest that his hands were thoroughly washed, double gloved and he wore a mask during the procedures.

He also said he had no injuries and was not infected, but added that he had not been tested.

The coroner said those involved who suggested it was the surgeon were trying to “plug the gap” with a possible explanation, but ruled it unlikely and “statistical coincidences may occur.”

The July 14 hearing also heard a legal challenge from the BBC and PA news agency to lift the trust’s requested anonymity order to prevent the surgeon from being named.

EKHUT argued that its anonymity order was to protect the reputation and mental health of its staff member from what it claimed would be detrimental to media reporting on the case, but the media offer argued that fears by the surgeon were speculative.

Following today’s findings, Ms Foster said she still believes there is a link between her daughter’s death and the surgeon because of the way EKHUT has tried to ‘slam the door in their face’ when they have tried to do questions.

Yvette Sampson, Ms Sampson’s mother, also said the trust had not listened to her and she will “always be angry” at what they had to do to learn the truth about her daughter’s death.

EKHUT argued that its anonymity order was to protect the reputation and mental health of its staff member from what it claimed would be detrimental to media reporting on the case, but the media offer argued that fears by the surgeon were speculative.

The coroner is expected to deliver narrative conclusions for both Ms. Sampson and Ms. Mulcahy on July 26.

She said: ‘The trust didn’t really listen to me; they were more focused on trying to make the problems go away.

“The last five years have felt like a real fight for answers.”

Ms Sampson added that the process of the last five years has “changed her as a person” and she finds it “difficult to understand” how the trust has acted.

Standing next to Ms Sampson’s father, Louis Sampson, the mother said she will “always be angry and upset” about what they had to do to get to the truth about Ms Sampson’s death.

Anna Vroobel, the family’s lawyer, also said in a statement that the investigation showed failure to care for Ms Sampson due to the trust’s failure to provide her with antivirals.

Urging the trust to learn the lessons from this case, Ms Vroobel said: ‘Patient safety must be a top priority. We continue to see too many families whose lives have been torn apart.’

The coroner is expected to deliver narrative conclusions for both Ms. Sampson and Ms. Mulcahy on July 26.

Ms Wood also deferred her decision on the anonymity order until the same hearing.

A spokesperson for East Kent Hospitals said: ‘We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families of Samantha Mulcahy and Kimberley Sampson.

“We cannot comment further until the investigation is complete.”

MailOnline has also contacted East Kent Hospitals.