THE mother of a teenager who was facing a seven-month wait for a hospital appointment says she feels let down by the NHS.

Clare Debeaux is considering paying privately for her son, Sam, to be treated because Colchester General Hospital keeps cancelling appointments.

Sam, 18, of North Road, Brightlingsea, pictured, who has cerebral palsy and is prone to blood clots, has been waiting since September to see a specialist about his kidney problems.

Tests last year showed one kidney has failed while his other was showing signs of kidney disease.

A hospital appointment in January was cancelled because the consultant went on holiday. A second date in March has also been cancelled due to staffing problems.

The earliest he can now be seen is April 21.

Mrs Debeaux, 41, who works for St Helena Hospice, Colchester, said: “My GP has been amazing, but he can only do so much.

“Sam needs to be seen by a consultant. His hands have now gone blue and his potassium level is high.

“I can’t go another two months waiting to know what’s going to happen to Sam. I shouldn’t have to wait that long with my son being so ill and showing all the classic signs of kidney disease.”

Since September she has had to take Sam to accident and emergency several times as he has been vomiting blood.

She added: “They just do the same tests and then send him home, but he never gets to see a specialist.

“I shouldn’t have to pay for private Health care, but I need an appointment. We were told we would be seen and put on a course of treatment within four months.”

Targets under the previous government said patients should wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral by their GP to treatment. However, this was scrapped in June by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

Mel Crouch, the trust’s service manager for medicine and emergency services, said: “On behalf of the trust, I apologise to Mr Debeaux for the cancellation of his appointments.

“It was unfortunate we had to cancel one appointment due to the annual leave of one of the two consultant nephrologists we have at the trust.

“We have now had a cancellation for Wednesday, and we will contact Mr Debeaux with the details.”