Two new mums tragically died of herpes which they contracted after giving birth just six weeks apart at the same NHS Foundation Trust. Both women underwent caesarean sections at hospitals run by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust and were attended to by the same surgeon and midwife
An inquest into their deaths is due to take place next week on February 27, the Mirror reports. Kim Sampson was just 29-years-old when she developed a serious infection caused by the virus following the birth of her baby boy at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent.
Just six weeks after her death, Samantha Mulcahy, 32 contracted the same virus after undergoing a caesarean. Kent's coroner service originally decided not to hold an inquest into their deaths but made a U-turn after discovering the same staff were involved in both cases.
After a smooth pregnancy, Ms Sampson went into labour on May 3 2018 after complications arose she was taken for a C-section. Baby Albie was delivered healthy but Kimberly needed a blood transfusion following the operation.
She asked to be discharged with Albie two days later but was in a lot of pain and was left barely able to walk. Her condition worsened over the following days and she was taken back to hospital by ambulance.
She was treated for bacterial sepsis, a potentially fatal condition, on the maternity ward with antibiotics. However, her condition continued to get worse and she underwent a series of operations to identify and treat the infection.
Eight days after she was taken into hospital, a consultant microbiologist suggested trying the antiviral drug Aciclovir which is used to treat herpes infections. Ms Sampson was transferred to King's College Hospital in London where she was diagnosed with a deadly herpes infection.
The mother was given just 'hours or days' to live and sadly passed away on May 22. New mum Samantha Mulcahy tragically met the same fate just six weeks later.
The 32-year-old nursery nurse underwent 17 hours of contractions and after some concerning blood test results, she was taken for a C-section at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. The operation is said to have been performed by the same doctor who delivered Ms Sampson's baby.
Her daughter was born healthy but similarly to Ms Sampson, medics were worried about the health of the new mother. They suspected she was suffering from the blood pressure condition pre-eclampsia which can affect pregnant women.
Three days later, Ms Mulcahy's stomach began to swell and her temperature and blood pressure was rising. She was also misdiagnosed with bacterial sepsis by doctors but when her organs began to shut down, she was taken to intensive care where she stayed for four days.
A doctor suggested she be treated with antiviral medication but were advised by the microbiology department to continue with antibiotics instead. Surgeons took her into the operating theatre to try and stabilise her but she sadly died on July 4.
The post-mortem concluded that Ms Mulcahy had died from multiple-organ failure following a "disseminated herpes simplex type 1 infection". Herpes is generally passed on by skin-to-skin contact and almost 70 percent of adults have had one of its two strains by the time they are 25-years-old.
Some people will develop genital herpes or cold sores but about two-thirds will have either none or mild symptoms. Medical records revealed that both women did not have herpes previously, meaning they had no natural protection against it.
Women in the late stages of pregnancy also have less protection from their immune system to fight off infections. The heartbroken family of Ms Sampson say that time has 'stood still' during their five-year battle for answers.
Her mother, Yvette Sampson, 53, described the inquest as "something we need to do to honour her memory". Paying tribute to her daughter, she said: "Kim's laughter and her smile were infectious.
"She was a wonderful, kind-hearted and loving daughter. She was also a fantastic mum to her two children.
"It's difficult to put into words the devastation and impact the loss of Kim has had on our family. It has left us absolutely heartbroken."
She added: "I look at her children every day and, although they bring so much joy, there is also great sadness that Kim is not around to watch her children grow and see their daily achievements. It gives me such a heavy heart that Kim's children will never get to grow up with their truly amazing mummy.
"Kim would be so proud of them and how they are developing. Her children will always know how much she loved them.
"While time has moved on since Kim's death it's stood still for our family. Kim had her life ahead of her and not knowing why she died is the hardest thing to try and come to terms with.
"We'd do anything to have her back in our lives but we know that's not possible. I've fought to have this inquest because of the many questions around how Kim contracted the herpes virus and the conflicting information I feel I've received from the [East Kent Hospitals] Trust.
"I know the inquest and listening to the evidence surrounding Kim's death is going to be incredibly upsetting but it's something we need to do to honour her memory and so that we can explain to her children when they're older."
A full inquest into the deaths of both young mums is set to be held over five days next week. Anna Vroobel, the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchel, who are representing Ms Sampson's family, said: "Approaching five years on, Yvette and the rest of the family remain devastated by Kim's death and the incredibly tragic circumstances surrounding it.
"Understandably they have a number of concerns about the events that unfolded not only during Kim's labour and her son's delivery but also in the lead up to Kim's death, and whether more could have been done to save her.
"Not knowing all of the facts about what happened to Kim has made trying to grieve for her all the harder. While nothing can make up for the hurt and pain the family are going through, the inquest is a major milestone in being able to provide Kim's loved ones with the vital answers they deserve.
"We continue to support Kim's family at this upsetting time as well as other families with concerns about maternity care at East Kent Hospitals. If during the course of the hearing any care issues are identified in Kim's care, it's vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety."
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