A MOTHER has blasted health chiefs after she was told there was nothing wrong with her five-year-old daughter – when she was diagnosed with meningitis days later.

Angry Joanna Chadwick, 38, contacted out-of-hours health services as she was increasingly concerned about her daughter Charlotte, of Waterside Road, Summerseat.

But she was told by operators from telephone helpline NHS Direct that her symptoms were merely a ‘throat infection’ and advised her to give Charlotte the childhood remedy Calpol.

Joanna became frantic when Charlotte’s temperature reached 104 degrees and her eyes started rolling back in her her head.

She insists she also had problems with securing the services of a doctor at Bury’s walk-in health centre – a claim denied by the service who say they sent a GP who was unable to gain access.

Eventually Charlotte was seen by her GP and taken to Fairfield Hospital, Bury, where she was diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia.

Doctors said her condition was critical but fortunately, after treatment, she was allowed home.

Officials at NHS Direct say they have begun an investigation into Mrs Chadwick’s complaint.