A YOUNG mum who has battled severe allergies for 10 years says her doctor prescribed her medicine that would have hospitalised her – due to a paperwork blunder. Tanya Tingley, 32, claims her GP s surgery has not yet updated her medical history, despite th

A YOUNG mum who has battled severe allergies for 10 years says her doctor prescribed her medicine that would have hospitalised her - due to a paperwork blunder.

Tanya Tingley, 32, claims her GP's surgery has not yet updated her medical history, despite the fact she has been a patient there for nearly two years.

The mum-of-one suffers from severe allergies which cause her face to swell up and have even caused her throat to close over.

Each time the condition flares Tanya, of Shortcroft Road, Dagenham, is rushed to A&E at King George Hospital in Goodmayes.

"It's a nightmare," she said. "My head swells up so much I can't see because my eyes just become slits.

"The pressure in my head is so intense it feels like it is going to explode."

Although Tanya has had severe allergic reactions - medically termed Urticaria and Angioedema - for 10 years she still does not know what will set them off.

Tanya said: "That is why it is so important the surgery has my files in order.

"The list of allergens keeps growing. The medicine I was prescribed by my doctor last week, Diclofenac, would have hospitalised me.

"It has an aspirin base. Anyone who has read my patient history would know I'm allergic to aspirin."

Tanya switched to her current GP surgery in Halbutt Street, Dagenham, after moving from Barking where she attended a clinic in Upney Lane.

But she claims the surgery's paperwork backlog has put her health at risk.

She says doctors cannot give her any reason for her allergies, nor can they narrow down what substances she is allergic to.

"I'm constantly afraid of an attack," she said. "If I'm in pain I don't bother taking anything because I too scared I'll be allergic."

A B&D NHS spokeswoman said: "When a patient transfers to another GP practice, their patient files are transferred to their new practice to ensure continuity of care.

"We encourage all patients to let us know if they are unhappy with the service or treatment they have received so we can investigate and put it right."

NHS B&D cannot comment on individual cases due to patient privacy.