A MUM bled to death hours after giving birth to a healthy baby daughter via a ‘botched’ C-section.

Gabriela Pintilie, 36, lost six litres of blood before dying at Basildon University Hospital last February.

FAMILY'S TORMENT

The Romanian-born mum died after doctors conducting emergency surgery on her did not realise how much blood and blood clotting products were available.

Mrs Pintilie, from Grays in Essex, had been due to give birth to her second child via C-section on February 28 2019, but arrived at the maternity unit three days earlier when her waters broke.

After a series of delays, doctors decided to attempt an induced vaginal delivery, but when that was not successful, she was given a C-section the following evening.

The healthy baby was born at 9:34pm on February 26.

Mrs Pintilie was rushed into surgery after haemorrhaging, and died seven hours later, an inquest at Essex Coroner’s Court was told.

HOSPITAL MIX-UP

Dr Malcolm Griffiths, an independent consultant gynaecologist brought in as an expert witness, told the hearing that Mrs Pintilie lost 600ml of blood – a usual amount for a C-section – by 10pm, however half an hour later, she had lost another two litres.

Blood and blood clotting products were requested and Mrs Pintilie was given two units of O negative universal blood, and six units of blood matched to her.

None of the clotting products were administered.

Key people in theatre did not know blood products were available.

Dr Griffiths said: "Key people in theatre did not know blood products were available.

"Gabriela did not receive all of the blood and any of the blood products."

According to a report by the blood transfusion service, referred to by Dr Griffiths, eight units were released over, but two were returned afterwards.

He said: "Appropriate blood products were provided, but due to confusion […] they weren't administered."

BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION

When asked whether this was a breakdown in communication, he said "yes" and later added: "The top and bottom is more blood was available that wasn't used."

Dr Griffiths also said there had been a series of delays in Mrs Pintilie's care before the C-section.

He said: "There were delays in instigating the induction because of work load issues in the unit."

There were delays in instigating the induction because of work load issues in the unit.

The later decision to abandon the vaginal delivery was also delayed by a "number of hours" Dr Griffiths told the hearing, as doctors in the maternity unit were dealing with complications in another patient.

The maternity unit at Basildon University Hospital was given a "requires improvement" rating following a care and quality commission inspection in July last year.

In the same month, a coroner found the hospital's "neglect" contributed to the death of baby boy Ennis Pecaku, who died hours after his breech birth in 2018.

The hospital overall was rated as "good" in last year's report.

The inquest continues.

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