A mother who died hours after giving birth had had to wait for three days on an overcrowded ward before having an emergency Caesarean section, an inquest was told.
Violet Stephens, 35, was only 31 weeks pregnant and had a history of problems during births at Queen's Hospital. But staff failed to respond quickly when her blood pressure rose, Walthamstow coroner's court heard yesterday.
She gave birth to a boy, her third child under five, but her condition deteriorated and she died shortly afterwards.
The hospital is facing legal action by 12 women and their families over care at the Romford maternity unit.
Ms Stephens's sister, Kitty Mhango, a nurse and midwife, said: "This was her fourth pregnancy at the same hospital and they had records which showed she was a patient who had issues before.
"I thought they didn't take action early enough, that's why I was so angry. I felt they had let her down.
"She was just going there to have a blood pressure check-up."
The hearing continues.
