A CORONER has delivered her verdict on the tragedy of a new mother from Thurrock by saying there were "serious failings" in her care that led to her death hours after childbirth.

Gabriela Pintilie, 36, lost six litres of blood after giving birth to her daughter by Caesarean section at Basildon University Hospital last February.

Essex coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray said there had been delays, confusion and a lack of leadership in the care of Mrs Pintilie.

Mrs Pintilie gave birth to her daughter Stefania at 21:34 GMT on 26 February, but died seven hours later.

A breakdown in communication meant doctors conducting emergency surgery did not realise how much blood and blood-clotting products were available.

The mother-of-two, from Grays, bled to death over several hours but the child survived, the inquest heard.

Mrs Beasley-Murray told Essex Coroner's Court there was a "situation of confusion" during the "crisis events".

She said: "There were serious failings in the care Mrs Pintilie received at Basildon Hospital."

The hospital trust said it had apologised to her family.

Mrs Pintilie's husband Ionel Pintilie said he and his family were "heartbroken" by her death while lawyers acting for the family described her death as shocking.

Stephanie Prior, head of clinical negligence at Osbornes Law, described it as "one of the most shocking cases of unfathomable ineptitude".

She said: "For the medical staff to have received the blood products Gabriela needed to save her life and then not give them to her as she bled to death in front of them is beyond comprehension."

Diane Sarkar, chief nurse at Mid and South Essex Hospital Group, said: "We have been in regular contact with Mrs Pintilie's family and have offered them our condolences and sincere apologies.

"The staff involved in Mrs Pintilie's care have been deeply affected by her death, and we have made changes to procedures to ensure the same situation does not happen again."