"Frightening"

I have been asthmatic since I was a young child.

It can be very nasty on occasion and in December 2016 I presented at A&E with breathing problems.

It turned out that I had pneumonia as well as my asthma - but I was still turned away and told to take my antibiotics.

Two days later I was still struggling and was there again - only to be told that I must have anxiety.

Only someone who knows how it feels to not be able to breathe can realise the absolute fright and terror a remark like that can have on someone like me.

Not being able to breathe because of a condition always causes panic - but that is very different to someone who suffers from anxiety as a condition in and of itself.

It was the holiday season and I suffered all the way through it.

I was seen by my surgery by nurses who were not experienced in asthma and it was weeks and weeks before a GP realised that I still had the infection.

This delay caused so much distress and led to 12 further visits to A&E in twelve months because the infection was not treated appropriately in the first place.

It depends on who is on duty as to how you are treated.

One doctor barked at my husband after he explained that I was out of breath all the time since the pneumonia 'why are you here then, if you are always out of breath?'

I was given saline in a nebuliser instead of medication, which made me panic even more.

Had it not been for a nurse that took pity on me and gave me some, I would have struggled on, getting worse and worse.

It was a different story in 2008 when I presented with a nasty infection.

I was admitted, given the right drugs intravenously and I could not have asked for better care.

I felt so reassured and was better within a few days.

However, my experience in 2016 was so very different - I have been patronised by some staff and horrified at the changes.