A PATHOLOGIST told an inquest that she believed a teenager who died a day after being diagnosed with tonsillitis by a nurse should have been seen by a doctor and undergone abdominal, blood pressure and pulse checks.

Toby James Hudson, 19, from Weymouth, died on July 4 2019 after being rushed to Dorset County Hospital when his condition deteriorated.

Read more: Day one - Inquest over death of Weymouth teenager Toby James Hudson

Coroner Rachael Griffin told an inquest the cause of death was Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which caused mononucleosis and led to sepsis, ruptured spleen and multi organ failure.

A day before his death, on July 3 2019, Toby - who was suffering from a 'severe' swollen neck - had been assessed by a nurse at the urgent care centre in Weymouth Community Hospital. She did not check his respiratory or blood pressure because she felt it was ‘not needed’ and prescribed penicillin antibiotics after diagnosing tonsillitis, the inquest heard.

The inquest also heard during the appointment on July 3, Toby did not complain of abdominal pain.

During the second day of the inquest hearing, pathologist Juliane Stolte said she believed the teenager should have been examined by a doctor instead of a nurse - and should have had checks for his blood pressure, pulse and abdominal area.

But Cristian Lasai, an anaesthetist at Dorset Community Hospital, said Toby's symptoms when he was assessed by the nurse did not indicate sepsis on the balance of probability.

Dr David Markham, who specialises in A&E, said to die of an enlarged ruptured spleen caused by EBV was an 'extremely rare occurrence' for a 19-year-old, but that on the balance of probability it was what caused Toby's death.

He said: "I don't think the paramedics or hospital staff could have done anything to reduce chances of death.

But he said: "It's pretty poor practice that the blood pressure and respiratory rate were not checked [at the urgent care appointment] on such a young man."

Dr Markham said Toby 'should not have been given antibiotics' because he would have scored a 'two' on the Centor scoring system, which is below the level where a patient should receive the medicine.

The inquest has heard that Toby attempted to call Wyke Regis & Lanehouse Medical Practice 25 times on July 1 2019 after becoming ill with flu symptoms and a severe swollen neck but could not get through.

He rang the surgery the following day a 'number of times' before being given a morning appointment at the urgent care centre in Weymouth Community Hospital on July 3.

Advanced nurse practitioner Briony Jefferis said he had a swollen red neck, inflamed tonsils and white spots at the back of his throat, and prescribed penicillin.

The following day on July 4 at around 7.30pm an ambulance was called to the teenager's home when his condition deteriorated.

The ambulance had to make two emergency stops on the way to DCH when the the teenager went into cardiac arrest.Toby died approximately two hours after his arrival.

The inquest continues.