A GRIEVING father, whose partner died weeks after giving birth to their second child, has won £122,500 damages from Bury and Rochdale Health Authority.

The Authority agreed to an out-of-court settlement in the case brought by Mr Guy Rothwell, 42, of Spinney Drive, Bury.

It followed the death of his 28-year-old partner, Angela Berry, in 1994, just weeks after she gave birth to daughter Nikki, the couple's second child, in Fairfield hospital.

Ms Berry had a Caesarean section and, when she later became ill, doctors at Bury General Hospital treated her for pneumonia when she actually had an infected pulmonary embolus - a blood clot.

The £122,500 award, approved by the High Court in Manchester, will be split between the couple's two children, Daniel, aged eight, and Nikki.

Mr Rothwell, who was supported by Legal Aid, said he fought to take the matter to court to get answers: "I cannot understand why they did not diagnose the embolism and did not explore all avenues with the treatment. They should not have stopped the anticoagulant therapy. Maybe if they had she would be here now. "We put our faith and trust in the doctors. Angela's life was in their hands."

Ms Berry returned home a week after the birth but suddenly became very ill and was rushed to Bury General Hospital. X-rays, tests and a scan were carried out at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Mr Rothwell recalls: "I was left to look after Daniel and a new-born baby. We were in the dark as to what was happening. One minute Angela was fine and the next she could hardly move."

She was put on antibiotics and sent home.

"She was in a very bad way. She could not even make it up the stairs. She was clearly not in any state to be at home. All I can remember her saying is: please don't let me die."

Miss Berry's condition deteriorated further and, after collapsing, she was rushed to Bury General Hospital where she died.

Mr Phillip Bacon, chief executive of the Bury Health Care NHS Trust, which is responsible for running the hospitals, said: "Ms Berry died of an extremely rare condition. All the appropriate tests were carried out and she was given standard treatment. Sadly, this treatment was ineffective in her case."

He added: "The hospital has always denied liability. We wish to express our sympathies to Mr Rothwell and to the family."

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