Patient Kathy Jefferies says she was refused treatment at Chippenham Community Hospital on Sunday because her GP is Dr Barney Williams.

Mrs Jefferies, of Doveys Terrace in Kington Langley, was obliged to drive herself to Malmesbury Hospital, despite being in agonising pain.

Mrs Jefferies' mother Patricia Brown said: "I was livid I think it's criminal. She's a single mum with three young sons and she was in absolute agony."

Mrs Jefferies became ill on Sunday morning at about 8am, suffering abdominal pains and passing blood.

She phoned Chippenham Hospital but Mrs Brown says when her daughter told staff her GP was Dr Williams from Chippenham, she was told she would not be treated at Chippenham.

"They told her they would ring back to say who would see her. But after an hour nobody had phoned, so she rang again. They said to go to Malmesbury," said Mrs Brown.

Dr Williams is in dispute with Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary care Trust over the provision of out-of-hours care. He withdrew from providing the out-of-hours service in the autumn, claiming he was unable to provide an adequate service.

At a meeting with patients last week the PCT's chief executive, Barbara Smith, said there was no reason why patients from the Marshfield Road Surgery should not be treated at Chippenham Hospital and assured them she would look into the matter.

Dr Williams said: "If I breathed sulphur and had horns and was known for cheating at bridge that is still no justification for treating one of my patients badly. Whatever people think of me, my patients deserve to be treated like human beings.

"To put this suffering on a woman trying to do her level best for her family is absolutely indefensible."

He said he had contacted the PCT about the incident, and the patient had also done so, but they had received no feedback as yet.

A PCT spokesman said: "The PCT was alerted to this incident on June 3 by the practice. Any investigation requires the patient's consent which the PCT has sought to secure.

"Following which, the PCT will pursue the appropriate complaints procedure."