A wheelchair user who needs to self-inject with anti-sickness drugs five times a day was turned away from a North East needle exchange because she was not using illegal drugs.
Philippa Donegan has incurable Ehlers-Danlos-Syndrome.
Her GP prescribes vials of the drugs she needs but the NHS won't supply the needles and syringes that she needs to inject herself.
But when she took her used needles to the Live Well Centre in Middlesbrough's Dundas Shopping Centre she was turned away.
Live Well Centre's needle exchange is provided by a charity called Change Grow Live.
The charity's deputy director Joy Ainsworth explained that government funding for it meant that the group could only help prevent harm to those using illegal drugs.
She added: “We do not hold equipment for people who are clinically required to inject prescribed medication. “This requires tailored advice and equipment, which sit outside of our remit as a Substance Misuse Service. “In this instance, we directed the lady back to her GP.”
A South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group explained why people with chronic illnesses are not prescribed needles and syringes.
A CCG spokesman said the decision had been made at a national level.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said that while there are national and local prescribing guidelines, ultimately the decision on what doctors and nurses prescribe is based on their clinical expertise and the medical needs of their patients.
The lack of access to needles and syringes is just one of the issues that Philippa and local support group, Ehlers-Danlos Teesside, will be bringing before Middlesbrough Council’s Health Scrutiny Panel this year.
Cllr Philippa Storey, Labour councillor for Linthorpe and Health Scrutiny Panel member, said: “The fact the NHS is supplying the drugs but not the needles is absolutely ridiculous. “It’s putting patients at risk. They are prescribing something that, because they aren’t prescribing the needles, could harm people.”