The family of a student killed by meningitis spoke of their trauma as they recalled their daughter's final hours almost a year after her death.

Graham and Christine Naylor told of their ordeal at an inquest into the death of their 20-year-old daughter Natalie.

The Sussex University student was in her second year of an international relations course when she contracted the B strain of meningococcal meningitis.

Coroner Dr Roy Palmer heard at Sutton Magistrates Court how Natalie died two days after being admitted to St Helliers Hospital in Surrey.

Despite arriving at the accident and emergency department with a rash and complaining of a stiff neck, aching joints and sickness, Mrs Naylor told the inquest how her daughter was not seen by doctors for more than an hour.

She said the family had travelled with Natalie to the hospital on the advice of an NHS Direct helpline expert.

Mrs Naylor, from Wallington, Surrey, said: "I said to Natalie you were with me and this is what it is all about - early diagnosis and early treatment.

"But the doctor just treated Natalie so disrespectfully and said she was far too well to have meningitis."

Hours after being admitted to a ward, Natalie collapsed and was taken to the ITU intensive therapy unit where she died on January 24 this year, the inquest heard.

A post mortem confirmed Natalie had died of meningitis.

The inquest was told evidence from doctors at the hospital revealed how blood tests taken from Natalie shortly after she arrived were not seen until 7am the following morning.

Accident and emergency doctor Irim Kirchner said: "I would expect her to be more unwell to diagnose meningitis.

"She was sitting there. She didn't look distressed - tired, but not very unwell."

Dr Kirchner told the inquest she would now handle similar cases differently.

She said: "We do not see these cases coming in every day.

"In the future when anybody comes in, I will start the antibiotics immediately."

Further checks were made on Natalie by other specialists at the hospital but failed to result in a diagnosis of meningitis.

The inquest also heard from consultant physician Dr Howard, who claimed Natalie's condition was beyond treatment when she was admitted to hospital.

He said she had a swelling in the brain, which he believed was already underway when she arrived at hospital.

Dr Howard said: "I don't think anybody would have been able to pick out she was terminally ill and that we were seeing her in her last moments of life."

Speaking outside court, flanked by her husband and son James, primary school teacher Mrs Naylor, 50, said: "I was with my daughter all night and when I left her in the hospital it was with something that was not serious.

"If she had been given treatment at least we would have the certainty. "But she was not given the chance to put that to the test."

The coroner's verdict will be announced next Tuesday, November 30.