Two new mums died of herpes contracted after giving birth just six weeks apart - with inquests due to take place next week.
Both women underwent caesarean sections at hospitals run by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.
Kim Sampson was just 29 when she developed a serious infection caused by the virus following the arrival of her baby boy.
She gave birth at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent.
Just six weeks after her death, another woman - Samantha Mulcahy, 32 - contracted the same virus after undergoing a caesarean.
Kent's coroner's service originally decided not to hold inquests into the deaths of the two new mums.
But they have made a U-turn after they later found that the same surgeon and midwife were involved in the care of both women.
The inquest will start on February 27, it emerged today.
"Bright and bubbly" barber Kim was already mum to a three-year-old daughter.
After a smooth pregnancy Ms Sampson went into labour on May 3, 2018, but due to complications she was taken for a C-section.
Baby Albie was delivered healthy, but Kimberly required a blood transfusion following the operation.
She was discharged with Albie two days later, at her request, but was in a lot of pain and was barely able to walk.
Her condition deteriorated over the following days and she was taken back to hospital by ambulance.
She was treated with antibiotics on the maternity ward for bacterial sepsis, a potentially fatal condition.
Despite medication her condition worsened. She underwent a series of operations to identify and treat the infection.
Eight days after she was readmitted, a consultant microbiologist suggested trying the antiviral drug Aciclovir, which is used to treat herpes infections.
It was only after Ms Sampson was transferred to King's College Hospital in London that she was diagnosed with a catastrophic herpes infection.
She was given just "hours or days" to live and died on May 22.
New mum Samantha Mulcahy had the same fate just six weeks later.
After 17 hours of contractions and some concerning blood test results, the 32-year-old nursery nurse was taken for a C-section at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.
The operation is believed to have been performed by the same doctor who delivered Ms Sampson's baby.
Her daughter was born healthy, but like Ms Sampson, doctors were concerned about the new mum.
They were worried that she was suffering from the blood pressure condition pre-eclampsia, which can affect pregnant women.
Three days later Ms Mulcahy continued to deteriorate, with her stomach swelling and her temperature and blood pressure rising.
Like Ms Sampson, doctors believed she was suffering from bacterial sepsis. She too was given antibiotics which did not work.
As 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 they were advised by the microbiology department to continue with antibiotics instead.
Doctors called for support from a hospital in London, and surgeons took her into the operating theatre to try stabilise her, but she died on July 4.
The post-mortem found 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 per cent of adults have one of its two strains by the time they are 25.
Some people will develop cold sores or genital herpes, 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.
The family of Ms Sampson says that time has "stood still" during their five-year fight for answers.
Her mother, Yvette Sampson, 53, described the inquest as "something we need to do to honour her memory".
She added: "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."
Kim lived with her mother in Whitstable of the Kent coast.
The heartbroken mum 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."
