Charlotte Hartey inquest told of rare symptoms

A specialist who saw a Shropshire schoolgirl who died from complications caused by tonsillitis told an inquest it was the first time in nearly 30 years he had come across a case like it.

Ear, nose and throat specialist John Farrow, said he fully expected Charlotte Hartey, 16, to pull through. Charlotte, from Bronygarth near Oswestry, died at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on July 31 last year.

Oswestry GP Dr Michael Arthur had carried out an over the phone diagnosis on July 22 and diagnosed she had swine flu, prescribing Tamiflu.

Tests later showed she never had swine flu and instead died from complications caused by tonsillitis.

Mr Farrow told an inquest in Shrewsbury yesterday he saw Charlotte at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on July 29 last year. He diagnosed peritonsillitis, a mild swelling of the tonsils.

He said: "I took it for the kind of throat infection we deal with all the time. I expected her to pull through. In 29 years it's the first time I've seen a case like this."

Earlier, a hospital consultant told the inquest how she "ripped herself to pieces" after not reading a GP's letter which revealed the 16-year-old had a high white blood cell count.

But Dr Saskia Jones-Perrott said that even if she had been aware of it, the treatment she gave the teenager would probably not have been different. She told the inquest she had not read a note from another GP, Dr David Campbell, in which he told of Charlotte's abnormal blood results.

She said: "I was not aware she had bloods done the day prior to admission through Dr Campbell. Dr Campbell sent the letter in and made it clear but I was not aware of the abnormal blood results. I have ripped myself to pieces about this."

Dr Campbell said he visited Charlotte at her home on July 24 last year. He said he examined her ears and throat and prescribed amoxicillin.

Dr Campbell said he returned to Charlotte's home on July 28 when she complained of chest pain.

He said: "I took swabs and did a blood test. Then on July 29 I rang the surgery to inquire into her results. She had a white cell count of 30,000."

Earlier, Charlotte's father, Karl Hartey, told the inquest of his concerns about the care his daughter was receiving.

The inquest is set to resume today.