Lorette Divers inquest: Sheffield mum-of-two died in hospital from undiagnosed sepsis following miscarriage

An inquest is underway into the death of a young Sheffield mother-of-two who died of undiagnosed sepsis following a miscarriage.
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Lorette Divers died on November 20, 2020, two days after she was told her child had miscarried in the womb four weeks earlier.

She arrived at hospital on November 18 after for a routine scan for her 12-week pregnancy.

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However, at Sheffield Teaching Hospital’s Jessop Wing, the 30-year-old was tragically told she had miscarried a month earlier, and arrangements were made to abort.

Lorette Divers, of Sheffield, who died of undiagnosed sepsis following a miscarriage. A solicitor for her family has urged the coroner to rule there was medical negligenceLorette Divers, of Sheffield, who died of undiagnosed sepsis following a miscarriage. A solicitor for her family has urged the coroner to rule there was medical negligence
Lorette Divers, of Sheffield, who died of undiagnosed sepsis following a miscarriage. A solicitor for her family has urged the coroner to rule there was medical negligence
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However, on November 20, Lorette was urgently admitted to Royal Halllamshire’s gynaecology after suffering the night before with pain, vomiting and high temperatures.

But at Lorette’s inquest, which opened on Wednesday at Sheffield Coroner’s Court, coroner Tanyka Rawden how heard the young woman was not assessed by a doctor despite her condition for the nine hours she spent at the hospital before she died.

William Chapman, a solicitor representing Lorette’s family, including her mum Maxine Nicholson and partner Jahred Smith, urged the coroner to rule there had been medical negligence in her death.

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He said: “She did not receive any emergency treatment. She wasn’t seen by a doctor. She did not receive antibiotics. She did not receive surgery.

"Nobody suspected what they ought to have suspected.

"This was a failure by the state in its obligation to protect life.”

Lorette’s vomiting was reportedly viewed as a result of pain brought on by her miscarriage.

She was noted to have a high temperature, which is not typically seen in miscarriages.

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However, soon after arrival, Lorette tested positive for Covid-19.

Dr Karen Selby, consultant gynaecologist, was asked if it was possible staff on the ward could have focused on this Covid-19 infection as a cause for her high temperature rather than consider sepsis.

Dr Selby said: “I suspect the Covid did distract staff at that point.”

On November 18, Lorette opted to abort her pregnancy with medical management, but later arranged to use surgery.

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On November 20, several signs were missed that Lorette was suffering from sepsis. Blood cultures were not taken and she was not assessed by a doctor at all.

She was placed in a room and was seen to be “comfortable and asking to be left alone to rest”.

However, Lorette later fell unresponsive on the ward and the emergency cord was pulled.

She was prepared for immediate surgery but sadly she died of heart failure shortly after at 6.07pm.

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A post-mortem later revealed Lorette was infected with clostridium perfringens, a common bacteria but one that a consultant gynaecologist noted was “rare, if not unheard of” in cases of sepsis in miscarriage without medical intervention such as Lorette’s.

In a letter read out in court by Lorette’s mother-in-law, her mum Maxine wrote: “From the second Lorette entered this world there was no stopping her.

"She knew exactly who she was – an independent, confident and fiercely loyal young woman who loved her family, especially her two boys. Her main focus in life was to create memories for her children.

"We love you always, Lorette.”

The coroner is due to deliver her conclusion tomorrow, Friday, February 25.

Editor’s note: There were several inaccuracies in this story about the order of when Lorette Divers attended hospital and when she was admitted for her pain and high temperature. It has been rewritten to reflect this.

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