A MUM has died just days after her daughter was stillborn because doctors were late to give her an MRI that could have saved them both.
Tammy Mackenzie, 41, sadly died at Heartlands Hospital in Bordesley Green, Birmingham in August 2023.
Her heartbroken mother, Jacqueline, described her as a “happy-go-lucky person who laughed a lot” and that she misses her daughter “terribly”, reports Birmingham Live.
Tammy’s family attended the inquest into her death this week which was told that if an MRI scan had been carried out sooner, both mother and daughter may have lived.
According to the assistant coroner, Ian Dreelan, had there not been “missed opportunities” to identify Tammy’s small bowel obstruction, they “were more likely to have survived”.
From May 2023, Tammy was admitted to hospital suffering from abdominal pain and vomiting.
She was admitted again at the beginning of July and discharged after being treated for constipation.
When Tammy returned to Heartlands Hospital on July 26, an MRI scan was recommended.
But the scan only took place four days later on July 30 which revealed Tammy was suffering from a small bowel obstruction.
Despite treatment, her condition worsened on August 1 and it was decided she would undergo an emergency laparotomy – a major abdominal surgery.
Tammy was 28 weeks pregnant at the time of the surgery.
Tragically, her daughter Khloe was stillborn following an emergency C-section.
And while Tammy’s bowel obstruction was treated, her health continued to decline while in intensive care after the surgery.
Treatment was eventually withdrawn by doctors on August 6 even after another laparotomy and she sadly passed away later that day.
Tammy’s cause of death was recorded as multiple organ failure, a strangulated small intestine and abdominal adhesion.
Mr Dreelan told Tammy’s family at the inquest: “I conclude that Tammy died as a result of natural causes, contributed to by missed opportunities to diagnose the underlying condition of small bowel obstruction.”
He said that an internal post-incident review concluded that “on the balance of probability” had the scan been carried out sooner, surgery “could have been performed while Tammy was more stable”.
This would have increased both Tammy and Khloe’s chances of survival, he added.
“Words can’t express my condolences to the family sufficiently for the loss you have suffered,” Mr Dreelan said.
“I hope, in some very small part, the conclusion of this process allows you to move forward in some way.”
The Sun reported earlier this week of how a mum’s baby died at just three days old after a hospital blunder.
Midwifery staff had left Eve sleeping instead of waking her for observations and to listen to Sonny’s heart, which could have potentially saved his life, an internal NHS investigation report found.
