A FAMILY are demanding new rules on medical consultations over the telephone after their daughter's illness was misdiagnosed without an examination.

Mr John Berry (44), of Lichfield Drive, Bury, wants an end to phone-line diagnoses after being mistakenly told that 10-year-old Emma had appendicitis.

He says that a medic from Bury and Rochdale Doctors On Call (BARDOC) should have visited the family at home, instead of sending them to hospital unnecessarily.

John, whose sister Angela died following the failure of Bury General doctors to diagnose a pulmonary embolism in 1996, plans to write to health minister Dr John Reid demanding new guidelines.

Elton Primary School pupil Emma was struck by a pain in her left abdomen.

On telephoning the on-call service, the family were told that that it was an appendicitis and that Emma should be taken straight to hospital.

Fearing the worst, the couple called an ambulance but were told on arrival that the problem was a less severe urinary infection.

John said: "My wife Linda asked if the doctor could come out to see Emma, but he said there was no time to waste. We were so worried.

"There was nothing untoward that could have happened as a result of the misdiagnosis, but an ambulance did not have to be called out.

"Staff told us they were disgusted with the treatment we received. Doctors are paid for this service, but all too often people are just being sent to hospital.

"When a child is involved you would think that someone could come out and see them."

However, BARDOC office manager Sue Ridgway said: "We cannot comment on an individual case, but our medical managers are looking into the complaint.

"Each case is handled on an individual basis. People are sometimes asked to go straight to hospital, but this is up to the individual doctor and based on clinical need."