A NEW mum who pleaded for medical treatment was given the run around by health staff before getting to see a doctor.

Ewelina Haq, 22, who holds a Polish EU passport, and one week old daughter Aaida, a UK citizen, were knocked back several times by staff at Maryhill's Buckingham Terrace Medical Practice, who demanded mum and daughter produce a series of documents.

Baby Aaida was born by Caesarean and Ewelina claims she needed to see a GP urgently because her scar from the operation had become infected.

Ewelina said: "I was in pain and I was worried about my baby.

"They told me I needed to show them my passport. I showed them.

"Then they said I needed to show a letter from my employer. I told them I was on unpaid maternity leave.

"Then they told me I needed to show my student card from Anniesland College.

"When my husband went back with it and showed them they told him it wasn't valid because it didn't have NUS on it.

"The baby was just a week old."

Ewelina, who had been living legally in Anniesland for two years, was cared for during her pregnancy by a medical practice in Anniesland without any problems.

But she moved to Maryhill shortly before the birth and when the baby was born earlier than expected, she found registering at Buck- ingham Terrace was a nightmare.

She said: "I never had any problem in Anniesland. I've got the right to be here.

"I was frightened for my baby because I had an infection - liquid was coming out my scar. All they said was you need to show this document, that document.

"When I said I need to see a doctor, they said go to a hospital if it's an emergency. I went to hospital and they said I needed to see my GP."

After a week of wrangling at Buckingham Terrace, Ewelina and her husband, Suhaib, 30, went to a further away practice and were registered on the spot without any problems.

Ewelina saw a GP that day, who gave her antibiotics for her infection. Both she and baby Aaida, now five weeks old, are doing well.

An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokeswoman said: "We take all patient complaints very seriously and the Buckingham Terrace Medical Practice, which is contracted to provide NHS services, has thoroughly investigated the issues.

"A letter was sent to Mr Haq in which the practice explained fully the NHS guidelines for registering patients.

"The letter also outlined the different ways the practice tried to assist Mr Haq and his wife with the registration process, including requests for information from them.

"We should also make clear that it is NHS policy that genuine emergency cases are seen irrespective of patient entitlement to NHS services."

But husband Suhaib said: "We just want to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to other people. In my view they should help people in the first instance."