The family of a mother who died after giving birth has said an inquiry into her death would be a failure if lessons were not learned from the tragedy.
Lesley Cowie, of Aberdeen, suffered internal bleeding and a cardiac arrest following the birth of her daughter Grace in 2007 by emergency caesarean at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. The 31-year-old had developed liver problems and was placed on a life-support machine prior to her death.
Relatives of Mrs Cowie believe the tragedy could have been avoided if there had been better communication between hospital departments.
A fatal accident inquiry into her death, held at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, concluded yesterday.
In a statement, Mrs Cowie's husband Christopher called for urgent changes to be made to the NHS to prevent further deaths. He said: "Whatever the findings of this inquiry, no-one involved can lose as much as Lesley did.
"It is heartbreaking that Lesley never got the chance to take her first-born home from the maternity hospital or to hear her first words, watch her take her first steps or to celebrate her first birthday with her. All the things in life that are so precious, but that most of us take for granted.
"It is our opinion that if no lessons can be learned from what happened to Lesley, then this inquiry must be considered a failure."
The inquiry heard that there had been concerns about Mrs Cowie's liver going back nearly a decade. Tests were carried out in 1998 to find out why she was suffering from nausea and vomiting. An ultrasound in March that year uncovered nodules on her liver.
Mrs Cowie's health deteriorated a few days after giving birth to her little girl in October 2007. She suffered internal bleeding and cardiac arrest during which her heart stopped for 45 minutes.
She had surgery for an abdominal haemorrhage and was put on a life-support machine before she died.
A post-mortem examination revealed the haemorrhage was linked to a form of benign liver tumour, focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH).
Mr Cowie told the hearing last year his wife's repeated pleas for help fell on deaf ears. He told medics that his wife's post-birth pain was similar to what she had experienced when she underwent a liver biopsy several years earlier.
He also claimed she was denied a scan in her final hours as it was a bank holiday weekend and the process was only available during normal working hours.
He said no effort was made to speak to a liver specialist, despite doctors knowing her medical history.
Yesterday solicitor Robert McDonald made 11 submissions on behalf of the family detailing "reasonable precautions" they claimed could have prevented Mrs Cowie's death.
Mr McDonald urged Sheriff Peter Hammond to make determinations about "defective" systems of working at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. These related to communications and a lack of established protocol for liaising between hospital departments as well as the lack of access to scans and X-rays at weekends and during holidays.
But NHS Grampian representative Alastair Duncan QC said scanning equipment and consultants were available over the weekend, but only if requested. Sheriff Hammond, who is to publish his determination later in the year, called the case a "tragic and complicated matter".
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