HEALTH chiefs have been reassuring patients at the Hampshire maternity unit where two new mothers died shortly before Christmas.

Amy Kimmance, 39, and Jasmine Pickett, 29, are thought to have died of infections caused by Group A streptococcus.

They died within days of giving birth at the Florence Portal House at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester. Inquests have been opened.

A spokesman for Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust said about 100 letters had been handed out to expectant mothers.

Meanwhile Jasmine Pickett's widower David has paid a moving tribute to his late wife, who died on Christmas Eve, three days after their son Christopher was born.

David said: "As soon as we met I knew deep down inside she was the one for me. Fortunately she felt the same.

"It's a tragedy to lose one. To lose two goes beyond words really. As to whether it was coincidence or whether there are any factors linking them, only the investigations are going to prove or disprove that."

The hospital is waiting for more test results to find out why the women died. Screening of staff in the unit has shown that none were carrying the infection.