A PATIENT campaigning for better treatment for chronic pain sufferers claims she has has been refused NHS treatment - for going private.

Mary Hawgood, 68, from Durham City, says she has been rejected by the NHS because she saw a consultant privately while she was waiting for an appointment.

The mother-of-five, who has an incurable back condition, said she was forced to see a private consultant in Newcastle because of excruciating pain.

"I have worked and paid into the NHS all my life, I have a right to this service," said Mrs Hawgood, who has to take 200mgs of morphine every day to help her cope.

Long waits to get an appointment for the pain clinic at the University Hospital of North Durham led Mrs Hawgood to found a group called Campain.

The group now has more than 150 members and branches in Durham City, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and Darlington.

The group aims to set up a helpline and buy acupuncture therapy for members.

Mrs Hawgood has now lodged a complaint with the hospital.

She says she had to wait nine months to get her first appointment last November.

In April, Mrs Hawgood was given a date in July for her second appointment.

But she says that appointment was cancelled and re-arranged four times.

After another five-month wait, Mrs Hawgood had a consultation on September 19.

But she says she was then refused further pain management advice on the grounds that she was not an NHS patient.

In her letter to the complaints manager at the hospital she states: "I believe in the NHS and would not have recourse to private medicine (nor could I afford to) unless made desperate by delays in obtaining NHS advice and treatment.

"I am entitled to the help of the pain management clinic and desperately need help now."

Mrs Hawgood also complained about long delays at the Durham clinic compared with other pain clinics in the region.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said: "We take all complaints seriously and we are looking into this matter.

"We can't comment further until our investigations are complete."