A PATIENT with a chronic lung condition claims she was failed by Stoke Mandeville A&E after she was sent away seven times before ending up in intensive care for three weeks.

Angela Bryan, 54, of Crossfield Road, Princes Risborough, said she could have died after an infection was missed by doctors and was disgusted by the treatment she received.

Mrs Bryan, who suffers with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, had a bouts of struggling to breathe during February and March.

On seven occasions she said she was sent home from A&E with no conclusion. But on April 3 she was rushed by ambulance to the hospital because she could not breathe.

After examination a severe chest infection was discovered. She was sedated and taken to intensive care, where she spent three weeks.

"I felt really disgusted with the way I was treated at A&E," she said.

"I was in a state of shock really because they didn't do what I thought they'd do."

She was diagnosed with COPD two years ago and said the fact this was on her medical record made her treatment worse.

"I was out of breath just walking and I said I wasn't well enough to go home but they sent me home. I felt I wasn't treated right.

"I don't want to go through that again and there's no hospital nearer. It was a nightmare.

"I could have died quite easily." She spent four further weeks after intensive care in a ward.

During her stay, she also caught pneumonia at the ward and got a bowel infection. She is now gradually recovering at home.

Her daughter Kirstie Steptoe said: "I'm absolutely disgusted that my mother was treated the way she was. It could've been dealt with back in February, but they prolonged it through to April when it was much worse. If they had dealt with it in February we wouldn't have had to go through this ordeal.

"I was devastated because I could've lost my mum. It should never have happened."

The family also complained about having to pay £16 on five occasions where there was no supplied transport.

But they praised the intensive care staff, who they said could not be faulted at all.

Lynne Swiatczak, Chief Nurse said: “We are sorry to hear that Mrs Steptoe was not happy with elements of the care her mother received at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

"We understand Mrs Steptoe has discussed some of her concerns with us, however we would urge her to get back in contact again so that we can look into this in more detail. It is absolutely our aim to ensure that patients receive the highest quality care and we take all feedback from patients and relatives very seriously.”