Mary Agyapong: Pregnant nurse who died with Covid 'felt pressured' to work

Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong died five days after her baby was delivered at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, where she worked as a nurse

A pregnant nurse who died with Covid-19 felt "pressurised" to return to work despite being "very worried" for her health, an inquest heard.

Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong, 28, died after giving birth at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, where she also worked.

Her widower Ernest Boateng told the inquest that "due to high demand at the hospital she had to continue working".

A senior colleague said she had no knowledge of Ms Agyapong being pressured to return or remain at work.

The inquest in Bedfordshire heard Ms Agyapong was signed off on 12 March 2020, initially for back problems, and died on 12 April.

She was admitted to hospital with breathing problems on 5 April and discharged the same day.

Dr William Manning, who assessed the nurse on her admission, said he "suspected she had Covid-19" but sent her home as she did not require oxygen therapy.

"She didn't seem particularly happy to go home," he said.

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Two days later she was readmitted with Covid symptoms.

Surgeons safely delivered her baby, also named Mary, by Caesarean section before Ms Agyapong was transferred to intensive care, where she died.

Her preliminary cause of death was given as pneumonia and Covid-19.

Ernest Boateng said his wife began sleeping in the spare room to protect him and their son AJ

Giving evidence, Mr Boateng said: "Mary continued to work during this time [the start of the coronavirus outbreak], but she was very concerned about the situation involving Covid-19, so much so that when she came home from work she would take her clothes off at the front door and take a shower immediately.

"She was very worried about bringing Covid into the home."

Mr Boateng told the inquest his wife had worked "on some Covid-19 wards".

"I wanted her to stay at home," said Mr Boateng. "But due to high demand at the hospital, she had to continue working.

"She tried to reassure me that everything would be OK but I could understand she was anxious and panicking deep down."

Ms Agyapong had worked at Luton and Dunstable Hospital for five years

Mr Boateng said he strongly believed his wife contracted Covid while at work.

The inquest heard that after she was signed off, Ms Agyapong would go into the hospital to confirm her ill-health and to attend medical appointments.

"My understanding is Mary was being pressurised to get back to work, as she had meetings about her sickness records earlier that year," Mr Boateng said.

Jonathan Holl-Allen QC, for Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, asked Nicola Hinselwood, a senior colleague of Ms Agyapong's, if there was "any question of Mary being pressured either to return to work or to remain at work".

Ms Hinselwood replied: "Not to my knowledge."

Mr Boateng told the inquest he was not allowed on to the maternity ward to be with his wife when she gave birth on 7 April.

"What was supposed to be a happy moment in our lives quickly changed into a traumatic and painful loss," he said.

"Every day my children have to deal with the loss of their mother and I feel helpless when AJ asks when he can see his mother again."

The inquest continues.