Neglect led to new mother's death

A maternity unit has been accused of neglect following the death of a first-time mother.

Ana Maria Denzo, 30, bled to death after a Caesarean operation at Northwick Park Hospital, North London Coroner's Court heard.

Coroner Andrew Walker recorded Mrs Denzo's death was "contributed by neglect" and "ongoing failures".

Hers was the 10th death at the maternity unit in three years, sparking a probe by the Healthcare Commission.

Following the birth, Mrs Denzo suffered a haemorrhage and overnight she suffered a catastrophic loss of up to 10 litres of blood.

She was brought back into surgery the next morning.

'No comfort'

The coroner ruled: "From 10.30 in the evening there were ongoing failures in the care of Mrs Denzo which represented a lost opportunity to treat the haemorrhage from the injured vessel."

She was transferred to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, central London, but died in March 2005.

Her family, including husband Arnulfo Denzo and her parents, who had travelled from their home in the Philippines, held back tears as the coroner delivered his narrative verdict.

The coroner said: "Nothing I will be able to say will be enough to comfort them. As a consequence of this, Mrs Denzo's daughter will never know her mother."

North West London Hospitals NHS Trust said it was determined "lessons are learned" from the tragedy.

Following Mrs Denzo's death it has developed a new policy on the management of major obstetric haemorrhages and the use of certain drugs.

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