A mother-of-three died of complications weeks after losing her unborn baby at a Black Country hospital, an inquest heard.

Louisa Cattell was eight days overdue when she had a stillborn baby on January 19, 2009 at Walsall Manor Hospital.

Walsall Coroner’s Court was told yesterday that 32-year-old Miss Cattell, of Awlmakers Grove, Leamore, was sent home but readmitted hours later with abdominal pain.

She was diagnosed with septicaemia and a fungal infection and associated conditions that resulted in organ failure. She died on March 5, 2009.

Her pregnancy had been treated as “high risk” after a previous miscarriage and an emergency caesarean to deliver her third child Natasha Fitzgerald, four.

The inquest heard that the foetus had not been growing properly after 35 weeks and that the hospital could have intervened on a number of occasions.

Miss Cattell, who was also mother to Nathan Fitgerald, 11 and Daniel Fitzgerald, nine, was seen by a junior doctor on January 13, 2009, but growth records were not consulted.

Giving evidence, Professor Christopher Balogun-Lynch, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist surgeon, said if the impaired growth had been raised as an issue, Miss Cattell would have been admitted to hospital immediately to have the baby.

Coroner Robin Balmain said Miss Cattell died as a result of complications arising from the still birth.

He said: “Before Christmas and certainly by December 23, 2008 it was clear the foetus was not developing as expected.

“On January 13, 2009, there was an opportunity to intervene. Miss Cattell was seen by a junior doctor and she referred matters to a registrar. At that stage the records, in particular the growth records, were not consulted.”

An investigation was carried out by the hospital following Miss Cattell’s death and an apology was issued to her family.

Her father Mick Cattell, 60, of Foster Street, said: “We don’t know if things would have been different but more checks should have been carried out.”