An independent expert is to be brought in to carry out a post-mortem examination on a Shropshire schoolgirl who died after being diagnosed with swine flu.

The examination was due to be carried out yesterday but 16-year-old Charlotte Hartey’s family said it was postponed until tomorrow so an independent pathologist could carry out the procedure because of doubts about her diagnosis.

The move comes after a poll today revealed almost 90 per cent of GPs believe infections and serious diseases could be missed because swine flu is being diagnosed over the phone.

Conditions such as tonsillitis or bronchitis, even illnes- ses such as meningitis may be overlooked, they said.

Oswestry School pupil Charlotte died at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on Friday. Her family, who are from Quinta, Weston Rhyn, near Oswestry, have voiced doubts over whether she ever had swine flu.

Her father, Oswestry businessman Karl Hartey, said: “We don’t believe she did have swine flu although she had been diagnosed as having it and had been treated for it.

“Doctors at the hospital on Friday said she had tonsillitis, not swine flu.”

Charlotte developed blood poisoning and died at the hospital.

Mr Hartey said: “We have got so many questions that need answers but we can’t find those answers until a post-mortem is held.

“We were hoping to have these answers by now but the post-mortem has been put back until Thursday.

“My understanding is that it has been put back to so an independent expert can be brought in because of the sensitivities of the case, particularly because of the swine flu background, the huge question marks over the cause of death and be-cause of the press interest.”

The new poll for GP newspaper surveyed 251 GPs and found 87 per cent agreed that diagnosing swine flu over the phone meant other diseases may be missed.

However, GP editor Emma Bower added: “GPs clearly welcome the fact that there is a hotline as it has relieved some of the pressure they were under.”