A HAMPSHIRE teenager who died of swine flu went without vital drugs after she was diagnosed with pneumonia, an inquest heard.

Madelynne Butcher returned from holiday in Tenerife with a chest infection and was taken to Southampton General Hospital.

Respiratory consultant Dr Anindo Banerjee suspected the 18-year-old from Southampton was suffering from a bacteria-based pneumonia infection and put her on antibiotics.

It was another 36 hours before tests confirmed the student, who dreamed of being a doctor, had contracted the H1N1 virus and she was started on Tamiflu, the inquest at Leicester Town Hall heard.

Miss Butcher’s mother Beverley questioned hospital consultant Dr Rebecca Cusak, as to why Madelynne was not given Tamiflu sooner.

She said: “I want to know why I could go to the doctors and say I have swine flu and be given Tamiflu but when I take my daughter to hospital, to intensive care, it takes (so long) to get Tamiflu?”

Dr Cusak said that Miss Butcher, who attended St Monica’s and St Anne’s and went on to become president of Itchen College student union, was admitted to Southampton General Hospital on the evening of July 2 last year.

Swabs were taken seven hours later but it was not until July 4 doctors confirmed she had the virus and a course of Tamiflu was started.

Dr Cusak said prescriptions of Tamiflu needed to be “rubber-stamped” by a respiratory consultant to ensure there were no shortages of the drug.

She added: “I think the concern was there were limited stocks of Tamiflu and that it couldn’t be given to everybody who came in with a cough or cold.

“There was Tamiflu in the hospital but there was a delay until we got the results back for her.”

The inquest heard Miss Butcher’s condition deteriorated while she was in Southampton and she was put on a ventilator to help her breathing.

On July 17 the A-level student was transferred to the Glenfield Hospital in Leicester for specialist treatment but developed a number of blood clots in her neck.

Miss Butcher, of Crest Way, Sholing, Southampton, suffered a heart attack on August 6 and died.

In court she was described as a fit and healthy woman who had suffered with mild asthma.

Coroner Catherine Mason recorded a verdict that Miss Butcher died from natural causes.

Afterwards Miss Butcher’s brother Robin, 23, said: “It’s good to have a clear understanding of the factors regarding this case.

“Madelynne is sorely missed by her family and friends. She has left a massive gap in all our lives.”