Student, 20, died after visit to Dudley walk-in GP

Evelyn Purchase, 20, was found dead by her mother at their Butchers Lane, Cradley home.

She had been feeling unwell for more than three months having previously been diagnosed with sinusitis by a GP in January and been given two courses of antibiotics.

• See pictures of talented Evelyn's artwork here

After her condition failed to improve, her concerned mother Tara took her to Dudley's Holly Hall walk-in centre at around 10pm on April 4 last year. She was diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection and given antibiotics and antidepressant citalopram.

On April 6, Mrs Purchase returned home from a trip to London to find her daughter lying on the bed unconscious with the house phone in her hand. She attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but nothing could be done to save her.

At the inquest yesterday, Black Country coroner Robin Balmain raised concerns over the care she had received at the walk-in centre, saying an assessment of Evelyn had been 'less than optimal'.

Dr Mahmud Ahmed prescribed strong antibiotics – but Mr Balmain questioned why he had not looked into why she had not responded to two previous courses.

The inquest was told Dr Ahmed also gave Evelyn the anti-depressant citalopram as he believed she needed a 'lift' after being told she had lost her appetite. But her mother Mrs Purchase told the hearing yesterday that she was concerned her daughter did not have a mental health examination by Dr Ahmed before he prescribed the drug.

She said she did not believe her daughter had been 'treated appropriately'. Mr Balmain gave a short narrative verdict where he concluded: "A medical examination that took place on the evening of April 4 was less than optimal. It's not possible to say the death could have been prevented."

Dr Ahmed, giving evidence to the inquest yesterday, said he had not believed her chest infection was more serious, adding: "She was talking to me, she was not unduly short of breath, she was not distressed and she came walking into the room."

Following the inquest Mrs Purchase said the family was exploring the options available to them for taking legal action.

Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group, was not available for comment.