British mother dies after hospital 'clerical error'

A first-time mother from Hampshire in England died in childbirth from a brain haemorrhage after a clerical blunder left her without specialist care despite both her mother and aunt dying from the same rare condition, an inquest has heard today.

Kelly Hutchings, 22, of Redlands Road, Fareham, became pregnant in the late spring of 2005 but no appointment was made, despite referrals by both her doctor and a midwife for her to see a consultant obstetrician to oversee her pregnancy.

Despite her family's "significant medical history", the need for her to receive specialist care was overlooked by midwives and doctors on up to six further occasions, the inquest at Southampton was told.

The hearing was told that Miss Hutchings's mother, Shirley, and aunt, Sue Hickmott, both died at the age of 22 of a rare neurological condition which lead to a brain haemorrhage during childbirth.

But although this family history became known by Miss Hutchings's midwife, a clerical error meant that an appointment for her to be seen by consultant obstetrician Marwan Salloum never happened.

Miss Hutchings, who suffered from cerebral palsy, was described by her stepmother, Merrisa Hutchings, as not being a "forceful girl" and might not have raised such issues on her own behalf.

She gave birth by caesarian section to daughter Nikita but died during childbirth at Southampton General Hospital on November 16, 2005.

The inquest heard that the first time she was seen by a specialist was when she fell ill at the end of her pregnancy.

Donna Ockenden, head midwife for Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, explained that Miss Hutchings's GP Dr Peter Smith made a referral for an appointment with a consultant.

She said this request was "overridden" however and downgraded to a midwife appointment because he had not provided any reason for the request.