A Llandogo woman is taking on the NHS after claiming poor care in Wales could threaten her life.

Mariana Robinson, 60, has been suffering for more than a year with an auto-immune problem and pancreatic insufficiency, but felt forced to seek care privately in Bristol in March 2013 after being held on a waiting list for several months in Wales.

Having been diagnosed privately by a consultant gastroenterologist, she has now gained a place on the NHS in Bristol with the same doctor, but the Welsh NHS is refusing to fund her treatment. It also refused a further appeal launched by Ms Robinson.

The artist has spent thousands in Bristol having several tests, which have so far shown her condition to be at a "critical point", where 90 per cent of her pancreas has been lost. If she loses the remaining amount, she is at severe risk of developing type one diabetes.

In an attempt to clarify the condition and its cause, Ms Robinson (pictured right) is due to undergo a biopsy. She has also been diagnosed with severe bowel problems.

"All I want is to stay with my very good consultant who knows my history. I am not asking anyone to pay for private health care. It is important and urgent that I see someone," said Ms Robinson.

"I work in St Briavels and my GP's surgery is even in Gloucestershire. The problems are all political.

"David Davies has been very, very helpful and with his help Westminster is realising that the money going to the Welsh NHS is not getting through to patients."

Monmouth MP Mr Davies brought the issue up with "appalled" deputy prime minister Nick Clegg at Prime Minister's Questions last week.

Mr Davies asked: "Does [Mr Clegg] have sympathy with all those suffering on longer waiting lists and with less access to drugs, and does he agree it's time to give them the opportunity to access the far higher services by this coalition Government for NHS patients in England?"

Ms Robinson is working against the clock to fight for her treatment. "I just don't have the time to wait.

"Patients here must either pay privately, die, or wait until Wales come up with something."

David Davies MP said: "Patients in Wales are waiting twice as long for treatment and have less access to life-prolonging or life-saving drugs.

"No wonder people are fed up and I know there are many others suffering similar problems who are not prepared to speak so publicly. It's time for drastic action to be taken.

"That is why I have met with Jeremy Hunt and asked him to consider allowing patients in Wales to be given the automatic right to be treated in England, with the UK Government being able to take the costs of treatment off the block grant that is given to the Welsh Government every year to fund the health service.

"Obviously, we should do the same thing in reverse so that patients in England – who for some reason might want to wait twice as long for treatment – should be able to access it in Wales. However, I would imagine very few would want to take up this offer.

"Although I recognise the reality of devolution and the fact the Welsh Government is responsible for the NHS in Wales, we are supposed to have a national health service which means people should be able to access treatment anywhere in the nation."

Ms Robinson is still waiting to hear from NHS Wales about when she could expect to receive treatment.

"Wales cannot cope with the pressure on it's hospitals," she said. "The doctors and nurses are working their socks off but the reality is that people are having to move house to get the care they need in England.

"Those who pay do, those who can't, die."