Amy died three days after hospital release

A 15-year-old girl suffered four heart attacks and died just three days after she had been discharged from hospital, an inquest heard.

Amy Carter had been diagnosed with glandular fever before she was sent home.

But the teenager, of Santa Maria Way, Stourport, had to be rushed back to hospital and died on Christmas Eve.

Her father yesterday questioned the decision to discharge her before the results of a swab were known.

The inquest heard she was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital on December 19 suffering with abdominal pain, a rash and a fever.

She was discharged with a diagnosis of glandular fever on December 21.

The next day she was having difficulty breathing and was seen by an out-of-hours GP in Kidderminster.

The Stourport High School pupil was told to continue taking painkillers. But on Christmas Eve, her grandmother had to call an ambulance.

She arrived at hospital in Worcester at 12.15pm. She suffered four heart attacks over the next three hours and died, the court was told.

Kidderminster Hospital consultant Dr Andrew Gallagher, who saw Amy at an outpatients' clinic on December 2, told the inquest at Stourport Coroner's Court she was a "healthy girl".

Consultant forensic pathologist James Lucas told the inquest Amy had developed pneumonia caused by a bacteria infection which had spread to her blood stream and caused septicaemia - blood poisoning.

The day before her death, results of a throat swab - taken on December 20 - were found to show traces of the streptococcus bacteria, which causes septicaemia if it spreads to the blood.

By the time the results of the swab had been returned, Amy's condition was already deteriorating.

Two doctors from Worcestershire Royal Hospital were questioned at yesterday's inquest. Amy's father Richard asked if Amy would have been discharged if the results of the swab had been received earlier. Consultant paediatrician Mary Hanlon said that she would.

The inquest continues.