A BABY who died from meningitis was discharged from a Greater Manchester hospital before a doctor had completed her diagnosis, medical experts have heard.

Dr Kirsty Challen told the General Medical Council that the baby boy's parents asked for him to be discharged from Wythenshawe Hospital, and she agreed "with some reluctance".

She told the Fitness to Practise Panel, sitting in Manchester, that she had examined the 11-month-old boy, but the family left the hospital before she was able to "review" his health.

Dr Challen, who was working as a senior house officer in anaesthesia, is accused of failing to check the baby for meningitis, despite him showing tell-tale symptoms of the disease.

It is alleged that she made no physical examination of the boy - or his two-year-old brother, who was also showing signs of meningitis - and merely asked questions of their health.

Dr Challen denies a charge of misconduct. If she is found guilty, the GMC could decide to remove her from the medical register.

The brothers, who have not been named, were taken to Wythenshawe Hospital by their parents on November 1 2003.

Both children had high body temperatures but neither showed skin rashes or sensitivity to light, which frequently mark the disease.

After being examined by doctors they were sent home, but their symptoms persisted and they were taken back to hospital the following morning.

Their mother waited at the hospital for about seven hours, but was only seen by Dr Challen once, and the consultation lasted eight minutes, it is alleged.

Proceeding.