Hospital chiefs have apologised for the “shortcomings in care” and paid compensation to the parents of a Medway schoolgirl who died after a CT scan mix-up.

An inquest into the death of 16-year-old Jenna Lester had been told that doctors could have diagnosed her rare brain condition if they had carried out a CT scan.

Jenna’s parents have been paid compensation thought to be in the region of £10,000, but the Medway NHS Foundation Trust has not confirmed the figure.

Jenna’s mother, Sonia, said this week: “It was never about the money. It’s not a lot for your daughter’s life, is it?”

The form requesting the CT scan never made it to the radiographer and Jenna died seven days after being admitted to Gillingham’s Medway Maritime Hospital with a severe headache.

The Fort Pitt Grammar School girl had collapsed and hit her head at her home in Gill Avenue, Wainscott, on February 9, 2006. She was admitted the next day and doctors treated Jenna for a stomach infection, which she had had prior to her admission, and said they would monitor her headaches.

Jenna’s condition deteriorated rapidly at Medway Maritime Hospital and she was transferred to Kings’s College Hospital, London, where she died on February 17.

Her father, Mark Lester, told the inquest, held in August, 2007, he had repeatedly told the doctors at Medway Maritime Hospital that Jenna had suffered from headaches two months prior to her collapse, and that he and his wife Sonia had taken her to the doctor and optician.

The inquest heard that a CT scan was requested for Jenna but the form did not reach the radiographer.

The request was made by Dr Paul Kitchen, a consultant at Medway Maritime Hospital, who expected a scan would take place on Monday, February 13, 2006. However, the form which should have been filled out by another member of Mr Kitchen’s team, never reached the radiographer and, unbeknown to Dr Kitchen, the scanner was unavailable that day because it was due to be serviced.

Dr Kitchen said at the inquest: “We are now being told when the servicing (on the CT scan) is happening, so there is better communication. Had I known about the servicing taking place I would have had a scan done at the weekend.”

Speaking on Wednesday, Jenna’s mother, Sonia, said she doubted the scan would have taken place on Monday, February 13.

“We kept getting fobbed off. We were told either she was not a priority, or the scanner wasn’t in service. There was always an excuse.”

Speaking at the inquest, Mr Lester said:”I kept telling them she needed a scan, but it seemed as if they were ignoring us.

“It is so frustrating to pass your daughter to a doctor and take it for granted they know what they are doing, and think everything will be all right: and then it’s not. You don’t want to think about that.“We would have paid them money to have her scanned.”

In a statement this week, the Medway NHS Foundation Trust said:” The Trust would like to reiterate its sincere apologies to the Lester family for the shortcomings in care Jenna received.

“Whilst nothing can compensate for this tragic experience, lessons have been learnt and robust arrangements are in place to ensure this does not happen again.”