A HEARTBROKEN couple claim their requests for doctors to visit their severely disabled daughter at home were ignored in the days before she died.

Christine and Christos Papalabropoulos spoke of their outrage at doctors whom they claim twice ignored pleas for home visits to their daughter Tina. She died less than a week later.

The couple, who live in Harris Close, Wickford, have started a campaign to set up hospital wards to take people like Tina, with special needs in an effort to avoid future tragedies.

Tina, 23, was mentally handicapped, suffered from a form of epilepsy and also had a severe spinal condition.

Her parents were worried when she picked up a dry cough, on Wednesday, January 21.

A doctor visited her at home the next day, diagnosed a lung infection and gave her antibiotics.

Tina’s condition worsened overnight and Mrs Papalabropoulos went to her GP surgery the next day to request another home visit.

A doctor called later that day and told her it was too late for a visit, but assured her Tina would get better in the next couple of days.

However, her condition stayed the same, prompting her parents to ask again for an out-of-hours doctor.

Nobody turned up until Sunday morning, when Tina was diagnosed with the lung condition, aspiration pneumonia and rushed to to Basildon Hospital.

Tina died on January 30, five days after being admitted.

Mrs Papalabropoulos , 52, said a faster response by the doctors might have made the difference between life and death. She said: “She should have been seen by a doctor earlier and should have been in hospital.”

Mrs Papalabropoulos added she understood Tory leader David Cameron’s pain over his son Ivan’s death last week.

“We put on a brave face, but inside we’re both broken. Tina was our angel.”

The couple, whose 27-year-old daughter, Vikki, also has special needs, now plan to write to Mr Cameron and their own MP, John Baron.

They are seeking support for new special needs wards in hospitals and for the medical histories of special needs patients to be more easily accessible to doctors.

Mr Papalabropoulos, 53, who works for Proctor and Gamble, said: “Although we’re still grieving, it makes me feel I need to do something for the sake of our daughter.”

They have urged anyone interested in supporting the campaign to write to them, at 2 Harris Close, Wickford, Essex, SS12 9QY, or e-mail christinemp@btinternet.com l Ruth Ainsworth, spokesman for NHS South West Essex, said an investigation was under way into Tina’s death.