GRIEF-stricken parents of a Malvern girl who died from meningitis want an inquiry after doctors failed to diagnose the illness.

Seven-year-old Emily Davidson died at home last Saturday, cuddled up to her mother Lizzie.

Now her parents have called for answers after losing Emily, who had a temperature of 104 degrees when her mum first contacted Court Road Surgery, Malvern, and was sent home.

"I want an inquiry because I feel more could have been done to save her," said Mrs Davidson. "I contacted doctors twice and they reassured me she was fine."

Yesterday, an inquest was opened and adjourned into the death of the Grove Infant School pupil.

Grieving parents demand answers

THE PARENTS of a seven-year-old girl who died after contracting meningitis have demanded an inquiry after doctors failed to diagnose the illness.

Emily Davidson died cuddling up to her mother Lizzie at the family home in Malvern on Saturday morning.

Emily, who lived with her mum, stepdad Mark Davidson, sister Jessica, aged 16, and brother Marcus, 12, had woken up the previous day saying her legs "felt funny".

"I want an inquiry because I feel more could have been done to save her - I contacted doctors twice and they reassured me that she was fine," said Mrs Davidson.

Emily's mum and dad, James Turnbull, said they were devastated at the death of their beautiful daughter, who they lovingly referred to as "Dinky Dot".

"She was taken young but she packed so much in - she was always smiling, full of fun and so loving," said Mrs Davidson.

And Mr Turnbull, surrounded by his daughter's drawings, said: "She loved drawing and if she made you a card, she could never put enough kisses on it. She was beautiful."

Emily, a pupil at Grove Infant School, had a temperature of 104F when her mum contacted Court Road Surgery in Malvern to make a doctor's appointment.

"Emily was wearing her sunglasses because she said the light hurt her eyes," she said.

The doctor advised her to take Emily home but to phone if she got worse.

"I was worried about meningitis and the doctor told me to look out for a purpley rash like a bruise."

She took her daughter home and at 10pm phoned the NHS Helpline because Emily was delirious and being violently sick, although she hadn't got a rash.

"The woman on the helpline got the doctor to call me back and he asked me what Emily was doing. I said she was sleeping and her temperature was down.

"He told me to leave her now and go and see him in the morning."

Mrs Davidson says she lay down in bed with Emily cuddling up to her.

"When I woke up in the morning she was dead. I called an ambulance, which took her to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, but it was too late."

Emily only started to develop a rash after she died.

She was examined by hospital doctors who suspected she died after contracting meningicoccal septicaemia.

A post-mortem examination into her death was opened yesterday and adjourned to a date to be fixed.

A spokesman for Court Road Surgery said he was unable to comment because of patient confidentiality.

How you can stop another tragedy

A CHARITY has produced a card to help parents identify whether their child is showing symptoms of meningitis.

The Meningitis Trust also runs a 24-hour helpline staffed by trained nurses to give advice to anyone who wants information.

"It's desperately sad when anyone dies from meningitis, especially a child," said a spokesman for the Meningitis Trust.

"However, it's important for people to know that meningitis is a relatively rare disease.

"The best way to fight meningitis is to be aware of the signs and symptoms and to remain vigilant."