Sam Mutimer claims she nearly died after botched caesarean at Bacchus Marsh Hospital

ANOTHER mum has accused Bacchus Marsh Hospital of placing her life in danger through allegedly botched post-birth care.

Sam Mutimer with Aiden, Samantha, Georgia, Jack, husband Rob and Addison in 2015. Picture: Rob Leeson.

ANOTHER mum is suing Bacchus Marsh Hospital for allegedly placing her life in danger through allegedly botched post-birth care.

Sam Mutimer says she was almost comatose for eight days after being rushed to another hospital after giving birth to son Jack by caesarean at the Djerriwarrh Health run Bacchus Marsh Hospital in October, 2014.

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Following the birth Mrs Mutimer claims in a writ lodged in the County Court that she told staff she was in pain and noticed that her legs were swollen and discoloured and that she also had some swelling in her abdomen.

“I complained, I complained, I complained,’’ Mrs Mutimer said.

“But none of the staff would listen.

“They told me not to worry, that everything was normal.’’

Sam with husband Rob and baby Jack. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Mrs Mutimer’s claim is the latest in a string of legal actions against the hospital since authorities revealed 11 babies had needlessly died under the care of its obstetrics unit.
While still in the hospital the mother of four says she experienced increasing difficulty with mobility, significant pain and a sensation of excess fluid, but claims she was discharged from hospital after being reviewed by a surgeon and assured there was not a problem.

She claims Dr Surinder Parhar, who oversaw the birth, told her she could go home.

Related: Hospital sold Dr Parhar’s axing as ‘retirement’

But during her first night home Ms Mutimer says she experienced increasing pain and by morning had a sore back and noticed that her skin was a yellow colour.

She returned to hospital and was diagnosed with internal bleeding.

Ms Mutimer was rushed to the Ballarat Hospital where she was diagnosed as bleeding from the sheath muscle.

“Emotionally it has taken its toll on my family,” she said.

“I went in for what should have been a straightforward caesarean and ended up in hospital for two weeks,” she said.

Bacchus Marsh Hospital.

Dr Surinder Parhar, formerly of the Bacchus Marsh hospital. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

“I still don’t understand how it all happened — I believe the trauma and suffering me and my family have experienced could have been avoided.”

Mrs Mutimer’s writ claims she developed a large haematoma and was diagnosed with kidney failure and treated with intravenous fluids for eight days.

She claims she suffered injury and loss as a consequence of the treatment she received from Djerriwarrh Health, which operates Bacchus Marsh Hospital.

“We are supporting Ms Mutimer and her family in seeking answers to questions relating to the care she received during that time,” said Slater and Gordon Senior Medical Negligence Lawyer Lee Kimonides.

“It has been traumatic for Ms Mutimer who is still suffering both physically and emotionally three years on.”

Dr Parhar told the Herald Sun last year that “no system is perfect” and the pressures of a booming population, staffing issues and GPs referring pregnancies to his hospital for findings that 11 babies had needlessly died while he was head of Bacchus Marsh and Melton Regional Hospital’s obstetrics unit.

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