The woman was sent home by medics at Darent Valley Hospital

A woman sent home from a Kent hospital twice before being diagnosed with rabies has died.

The grandmother, in her 50s, had been bitten by a dog on a trip to Asia.

An investigation has been launched at Dartford's Darent Valley hospital after it emerged she had visited A&E twice in four days before being diagnosed.

She was only sent to hospital when she went back to her GP. The woman was being treated at London's Hospital for Tropical Diseases, but has since died.

Five members of Darent Valley Hospital staff who came into close contact with the patient were vaccinated as a precaution.

The woman contracted rabies two months ago after being bitten by a dog while on holiday in India, but only developed symptoms within the last fortnight.

A Darent Valley Hospital spokesman said: “We have launched an investigation into the circumstances around this lady’s attendance at the emergency department and we are working closely with the Health Protection Agency.

“We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of this poor lady.”

The spokesman added that hospital staff responded to information supplied by the woman at the time of her visits.

He added: “The UK is rabies free. If a patient does present at hospital with vague symptoms a doctor is unlikely to consider rabies as a diagnosis unless the patient highlights wild animal contact in an at-risk country. The hospital responded to the information supplied by the patient at the time.”

The woman, who lives in London, is believed to be of Indian ethnic origin.

It is the first case of rabbies in England in nearly seven years.