A mum whose little girl is recovering from a life-threatening brain disease was horrified when she ordered her daughter’s medical records – only to be sent confidential notes of a complete stranger.

Charmaine Kember paid for a copy of four-year-old Annabelle’s X-rays, scan and daily reports from the Evelina Children’s hospital in London, where she spent two weeks on a life support machine.

But when the CD arrived at the family home in Toronto Road, Gillingham, she discovered it contained information about an elderly woman.

Mum of four Charmaine, 34, said: “My immediate reaction was, if I’ve got somebody else’s notes who has got Annabelle’s?

"The covering letter was addressed to Annabelle with her correct date of birth. I had to make sure her notes were not tagged on the end."

She called the health trust where staff apologised profusely and assured her that her daughter’s notes had not been sent out to anyone else.

Charmaine said: “I can’t thank the medical staff at Evelina enough. After all, they saved my daughter’s life.

“But when we are constantly told to be careful about revealing personal details, like bank account numbers, it is surprising that this can happen.”

Annabelle fell dangerously ill with a rare strain of brain disease in December, just three days after Charmaine and partner Lee Verney’s fourth child, Ted, was born.

Her condition deteriorated rapidly and she was rushed to the resuscitation unit at Medway Maritime Hospital.

After suffering a 45-minute fit she was transferred to the specialist London hospital where she was diagnosed with ADEM, which causes swelling to the brain. The condition affects four in a million people.

Her parents kept a bedside vigil along with new baby Ted as Annabelle began to show signs of improvement.

Annabelle was eventually transferred back to Medway, making it easier for brother Sean, 14, and sister Aimee, 11, to visit.

She is now back at St Mary’s RC Pre-School in Gillingham, full-time.

Charmaine said: “We are taking each day as it comes and each day is a blessing for us.

“It’s going to be a very long recovery and there are still things that cannot be explained about her illness. But we have been told that there is an 85% chance she will make a full recovery.”