A MAN whose baby son was struck down by meningitis claims a doctor refused to make a home visit and another wrongly diagnosed suspected measles.

Brent Howarth is demanding answers from health bosses after his six-month-old son Vanna almost died from meningococcal septicaemia, a deadly strain of the disease.

He claims that a locum at the Swan Lane Medical Centre said he was not allowed to come and see the baby boy at their home in Tildsley Street, Great Lever. And a doctor at Landmark House medical centre in Chorley New Road told Mr Howarth aged 37, that it was suspected measles and gave them a prescription for Ibuprofen.

Baby Vanna is currently being treated in the intensive care unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital where his condition is critical.

His mother has been keeping a vigil at his bedside, while his father looks after his three older brothers at home.

The couple must wait to see what long-term damage has been caused to their youngest son.

Mr Howarth, aged 47, a yard manager at Bolton Scaffolding, said: "All the alarm bells were ringing. I trusted my instincts -- Vanna had all the symptoms of meningitis." "He is very lucky to pull through but we don't know what will happen now." He added: "I need to know why we couldn't have a home visit, why the locum said he would come to see us and then changed his mind, why it was diagnosed as measles."

Vanna became ill in the early hours of last Wednesday. By 8am, he was suffering from a high temperature, cold hands and feet, high pitched crying, vomiting and a faint rash was beginning to develop on his body.

Mr Howarth rang Swan Lane Medical Centre and was told his usual GP Dr Caldwell was on holiday.

He claims that the surgery told him the locum would not be able to come and see him while the surgery was open.

After a number of heated telephone calls, Mr Howarth says he was told that the stand-in doctor would call after morning surgery finished at 1pm.

However, shortly before lunchtime, Mr Howarth claims the surgery rang back to say the locum was not allowed to do home visits and he should take his son to Landmark House medical centre on Chorley Old Road.

He says the emergency doctor there told him it was suspected measles and gave him a prescription for Ibuprofen.

On Thursday morning, Mr Howarth had set off for work when his wife called to say the rash on Vanna had started to turn from red spots to large brown bruises. The couple took him to the Royal Bolton Hospital where meningococcal septicaemia was immediately diagnosed.

Mr Howarth, his partner and the couple's three other children Sol, aged 18 months, Ethan, aged five and nine-year-old Kyle, have been prescribed antibiotics as a precaution. A spokesman for Swan Lane Medical Centre said: "We hope the child makes a full and speedy recovery and, with regards to the concerns expressed, we are looking into the issues raised."

A spokesman for Landmark House said they had been contacted by the family about the issue but had no comment to make. A spokesman for Bolton Primary Care Trust, which oversees the running of health centres, added: "We are sorry to hear of this family's concerns which must be adding to their worries at this difficult time. "We would encourage the family to raise their concerns through the medical centre's complaints procedure or directly with us."