A TERMINALLY ill woman died after being given penicillin, despite telling hospital staff five times that she was allergic to it.

Phillipa Rose Gillespie, from Haverfordwest, died on January 11, 2014, at Withybush Hospital.

At an inquest in Milford Haven this afternoon, coroner Mark Layton said Mrs Gillespie had been administered the drug in error by hospital staff.

The 59-year-old, who was suffering from a recurrence of inoperable lung cancer, had been taken to hospital by ambulance, and told paramedics, nurses and doctors that she was allergic to penicillin.

Despite this, she was given a drug commonly referred to as Augmentin, which contains the antibiotic amoxicillin, and should not be given to patients who are allergic to penicillin.

Within minutes, she suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction, became unresponsive, and had a cardiac arrest.

Despite the best efforts of medical staff, she did not regain consciousness.

She died three days later.

Roy Connolley, Mrs Gillespie's partner of more than 30 years, was present at the inquest, having waited more than two years for an outcome.

He had always maintained that his partner, with whom he has a son, should not have been given the drug, and was with Mrs Gillespie on one of the five occasions she told staff about her allergy.

He said nothing could bring his partner back, but that it was vital changes were made so that the same tragic mistake did not happen to someone else.

He said: "How many times do you have to say you're allergic to penicillin before they don't give it you?"