A CHANCE was missed to save the life of a mother who died from blood clots on her lungs just over a fortnight after giving birth, a coroner has said.

Marie Tompkins, 36, saw a GP at Haslingden Health Centre the day before her death last March, Burnley Coroner’s Court heard.

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Dr Sally Quinn told the hearing she believed Miss Tompkins represented a ‘low to medium risk’ of developing pulmonary embolisms, or clots, and did not refer her for a hospital check-up.

Dr Sam Ackroyd, a consultant haematologist, and Prof James Walker, an obstetrics expert, agreed the threat of clots could not be excluded without a hospital admission and CT scan, an inquest was told.

Cross-examined by East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor, the medical witnesses both said Miss Tompkins’ chances of survival would have been improved if she had been referred.

The inquest heard Miss Tompkins, of York Avenue, Haslingden, discharged herself from Burnley General Hospital after giving birth to baby Poppy via emergency caesarean section, as she wanted to look after her other daughter Grace.

Medics were reassured as community nurses would visit, she was under her GP’s care and could be monitored when she visited the neo-natal unit to see Poppy, the court heard.

Her sister, Kelly Larkin, noted how Miss Tompkins appeared to be ‘breathless and tired’ when the pair visited hospital to see the baby, after the consultation with Dr Quinn on March 30.

The mother had also complained to her doctor of suffering chest pain, radiating to her neck, four days earlier, and ongoing rib pain, which prompted the GP examination.

She was also suffering from swollen legs, the court heard.

Miss Tompkins told partner, Michael Hardman, the next day that he should go to work as she had enjoyed a good night’s sleep. But she was found dead at home later.

Following a three-day hearing, Mr Taylor, who described Dr Quinn’s examination as ‘cursory’ and her record-keeping as ‘poor’, returned a narrative verdict.

He said: “The symptoms and risk factors associated with pulmonary embolism went unrecognised at the consultation on March 30 and thus appropriate hospital treatment was not sought, which on balance would have saved Marie’s life.”

Speaking after the hearing concluded yesterday, Mr Hardman said: “We believe her death could have been prevented and the coroner’s findings support this.

“I am seeking legal advice about a potential claim.”