Rebecca Ben-Nejma death: Damages 'can't take hurt away'

The family of Rebecca Ben-Nejma was awarded £400,000 in damages against the NHS trust

The mother of a woman who died from an ectopic pregnancy after being turned away by a hospital has said £400,000 in damages cannot "take away the hurt".

Rebecca Ben-Nejma, 28, from Maidstone in Kent, collapsed and died in front of her husband and daughter in 2010.

She had twice been sent home in pain by Maidstone Hospital in the two days before her death. The Kent NHS trust has apologised and admitted liability.

Her mother Marion Mitchell said: "Nothing really covers the loss."

'You've got to cope'

The compensation deal was agreed in July between Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS and the family of Mrs Ben-Nejma and approved in the High Court this week.

It includes £251,897 to be apportioned between her children, Charlotte, 15 and Bailey, aged four.

Ms Mitchell said: "It's a little compensation for losing their mum.

"It doesn't take away the hurt, but it will give them a bit of a start when they get to 18."

Marion Mitchell said the damages could not "take away the hurt"

Mrs Ben-Nejma had gone to the hospital's A&E late on a Friday afternoon with abdominal pains, her family said.

They said a doctor told them he thought she had an ectopic pregnancy - where the fertilised egg develops outside the womb instead of inside - but said there was no-one to do the scan and she should return on Monday.

The family said Mrs Ben-Nejma also went to hospital on Saturday after experiencing more pain, but was sent home with painkillers after a registrar diagnosed gastro-enteritis. She died on the Sunday.

Ms Mitchell added: "I don't think you can make sense of it, and you've just got to cope.

"You've got to cope for the children."

The trust has apologised again to the family saying it has strengthened its emergency gynaecology services, offering better access to senior staff.