A MORECAMBE woman suffering from a life-threatening illness has been told by the NHS that it is not their policy to fund the specialist operation she needs.

Michelle Hartley, 20, of Sefton Road, has a rare diabetic condition and travels to a specialist clinic in Yorkshire for treatment.

She is allergic to insulin and is only able to treat her condition using a special fast-acting insulin which needs to be administered almost constantly.

Her doctors say she needs an operation to insert a pump which will help stabilise her condition. The cost of the operation is about £3,000 but NHS policy is to not pay for this type of surgery.

"It's getting more and more unbearable at the moment," said Michelle, who has to go into hospital every couple of months.

"I've got ketoacidosis which means my blood is slowly turning to acid and I've also been getting skin problems recently. It's potentially life-threatening and I worry about what will happen.

"The operation to insert the pump is quite simple but the NHS says it costs too much money because as well as the initial £3,000 the maintenance is £1,000 a year. I'd love to have the operation, my condition is getting worse, but I just haven't got the money to have the operation privately."

Michelle has had a tough time since being diagnosed with the condition just over a year ago, especially when she had a bad allergic reaction to the first type of insulin she was treated with.

She is currently receiving treatment at the specialist diabetic centre at Airedale Hospital in Yorkshire, where the doctors have been sympathetic and supportive.

She is investigating ways of raising the cash including approaching various charities.

Michelle added: "It's not the fault of the doctors or the local hospitals, they say they want to see the operation carried out, it's just NHS policy not to pay for it."