A father is angry after staff at a military hospital refused his daughter treatment because she was not registered there.

Paul Barlow, of Falkland Road, Catterick Garrison, said a receptionist at the Duchess of Kent military hospital in Catterick Garrison, would not allow his daughter, Jade, aged nine, to be treated for a nasty cut to her leg.

Jade hurt herself when she tripped on a concrete bollard as she walked to Le Cateau School.

Mr Barlow, a corporal with the regimental police based in Sandhurst, said: "As she was walking there were spots of blood falling on the ground. I was really worried. I didn't know what the matter was. She could have broken her shin or something.

"We were right outside the Duchess of Kent hospital, so I went in there."

But when he explained the problem to a receptionist, he was told that as Jade was not registered at the hospital she could not be treated.

Mr Barlow had to return home with Jade where he cleaned the wound and then took her to the Harewood medical centre where Jade was registered. Fortunately, the wound was not serious and was bandaged using sterile strips.

He said: "This could have been a lot worse. The receptionist should not be allowed to make the decision that she shouldn't be treated.

"I know that none of the medical staff would have had a problem treating her. Luckily, I was back on leave but normally my wife walks Jade to school.

"We have a son who uses a wheelchair and our other son is still in a pushchair and my wife would have had a lot of difficulty getting them all to Harewood."

An Army spokesman said: "Accident and emergency functions at the hospital closed four years ago and the nearest ones are now at the Friarage, in Northallerton, and at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

"If immediate first-aid was needed treatment would have been given. The best place for a patient to be treated is the place that holds their medical records and knows their medical history."