The grieving families of two young women killed by infections of the herpes virus shortly after childbirth have vowed to “fight on” for answers.

Kimberley Sampson, 29, of Whitstable, and Samantha Mulcahy, 32, of Hawkinge, died in 2018 after having caesarean sections six weeks apart, by the same surgeon at two Kent hospitals.

Investigations revealed they developed complications of the virus while being treated by the East Kent Hospitals Trust – which came under fire for the delay in treating them for the virus – having contracted it “before or around" the time of their operations.

And since the deaths, their families have waited five years for answers on how they came to be infected.

Today, assistant coroner Catherine Wood told the inquest at County Hall in Maidstone they died following multiple organ failure, caused by dissemination of the herpes simplex 1 virus – the initial infection having been acquired “before or around” the C-sections.

She closed the inquest into the deaths today, 19 months after it was first opened – but warned she would be making a ruling to prevent similar tragedies from occurring again.

Speaking outside the court today after the hearing, Nicola Foster, mother of Samantha Mulcahy hit out at the trust and said they are considering a Judicial Review into the deaths.

“Both families are appalled by the treatment we have received and the way that this inquest has been dealt with,” she said.

“We will always believe that Kimberley and Sam died due to contracting this virus in hospital, and have no reason to think otherwise.

“It scares me to think that someone else could have to go through what we have been through.

“It is the most horrendous experience and I can tell you that our mental health has been affected just as much as any member of staff in that hospital.”

Speaking on the coroner’s ruling, she said it feels as if she lost her beloved daughter “just yesterday”.

“These last five years we’ve not been able to move forward, I feel like today I have to decide whether to say goodbye to her or whether to fight.

“I feel that we need to continue fighting as this inquest has given us no answers at all,” she continued.

Earlier this month, the coroner determined at the same court “It was unlikely the obstetrician was the common source of the infection that lead to their deaths” and ruled out unlawful killing and negligence.

But laying down the summary of her findings, she said both women could have been given an anti-viral treatment sooner and, particularly in Ms Mulcahy’s case, “suspicion should have been raised” given the knowledge of Ms Sampson’s earlier death.

The coroner said: “The earlier treatment is given, the better the outcome.”

Ms Sampson gave birth to her second child at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, in May 2018, and died at the end of the month in a London hospital.

In July of the same year, first-time mum Ms Mulcahy died at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

Their families have desperately sought answers since the tragedies.

Speaking after the July 14 hearing, Ms Mulcahy’s mother Nicola Foster, said: “Our family over the past five years has suffered immensely.

“Losing Sam has left a massive void in our lives and a little girl without her mummy.

“I cannot give up yet, because I do not feel like we have got to the real truth.”

Ms Sampson’s mother, Yvette Sampson paid tribute to her “beautiful daughter” and said the past five years felt like a “fight for answers”.

“Kim was not just my daughter she was my best friend,” she said.

“She was beautiful inside and out and she had the most infectious smile and kind-hearted nature.”

In April, an inquest at the same court heard the surgeon, who cannot be named for legal reasons, could have been a potential source of infection.

But the clinician told the court his hands were fully scrubbed, double gloved, and he wore a mask during procedures.

He also explained he had no lesions and was not infected - though he had not been tested for the virus.

The same hearing also saw journalists launch a legal bid to lift the anonymity order applied for by the trust to stop the surgeon being named.

The trust argued the order was designed to protect the reputation and mental health of its staff member from, what it claimed, would be damaging media reports of the case – the media argued the fears were speculative.

Today, the coroner said the order should be upheld.

Ms Wood told the court today: “I would like to pass on my thanks to the legal teams of all involved, as well as witnesses both professional and otherwise.

“My thanks also to the press for raising this issue and bringing it to the attention of the court, but finally and most importantly I turn to the families.

“Nothing I can do or say will bring back the people who you love and care for, I hope that the inquest has answered some – I’m sure not all, but I hope some – of your questions and you can begin to try and rebuild your lives.”

Ms Wood will now write a prevention of future deaths report to the Royal College Obstetricians and Gynaecologists with the hope of preventing any one else from dying in the same way.

She told a previous hearing: “What is abundantly clear, this is a rare but fatal disease and more needs to be done to raise awareness of herpes.

“All of the evidence suggests early recognition is likely to lead to a more positive outcome.”

Tracey Fletcher, Chief Executive of East Kent Hospitals, said: “I want to express my sincere condolences to the families of Kimberley and Samantha for their loss.

“Since 2018, we have made changes to the way we work to ensure that if such a rare infection arising from this virus is suspected, it will be treated more quickly.

“During this inquest we have heard about the additional and unnecessary suffering the Trust has caused these families through failing to answer their questions after Kimberley and Samantha’s deaths and contributing to the delays in their inquests being heard. We are truly sorry. We are changing the way we respond when things go wrong, including how we support and involve families.

“I know we have much more to do. We continue to work hard to make the necessary improvements recommended from Dr Kirkup’s investigation into our maternity services, and the learning from inquests such as these, so we can provide women and families with the high standard of care, compassion and openness they deserve.”