£1m claim for triplets' mother

Triplets whose mother died in agony a week after their birth due to "serial neglect" by hospital staff are at the centre of a £1 million damages claim.

Jane England and her husband Martin had undergone IVF treatment to conceive the children, Matthew, Harry and Sophie. The Caesarean birth at Southend General Hospital on 30 November 1998 had gone well, but the family's counsel, Mr David Wilby QC, told the High Court: "The events that followed are not only regrettable but reflect serial neglect on the part of the hospital".

Staff failed to diagnose a bowel obstruction in the 30-year-old mother which developed into peritonitis. Mr Wilby said that she failed to come round after surgery and died from septic shock on 7 December.

The triplets have since been cared for by their father and both sets of grandparents "at times in really heart-rending circumstances", said Mr Wilby. Despite some assistance from social services, both Mr England, of Benfleet, and the grandparents had, at times, "come close to nervous breakdown".

Mr Wilby said the only ray of light was the fact that the triplets are well, except for a heart condition suffered by Sophie. Their father, a senior design engineer with Ford, had now been able to return to work four days a week.

The Southend Hospital NHS Trust has admitted full liability. Mr Wilby said damages, in total around £1 million, should reflect Mrs England's suffering. Her husband was also entitled to compensation for the loss of his "life-long companion".

He said the triplets are due more than £250,000 for the loss of their mother's " services" and up to £7,000 each for being deprived of her "love and affection".