A diabetes sufferer from South Oxhey said she's never going back to Watford General after staff "didn't know how to treat the condition" and repeatedly threatened to call the police when she asked to take her medical notes.

Gemma Ryan, who lives in Highlands, was admitted to A&E in the early hours of Monday morning but said she felt so unsafe in their care she discharged herself at 8am the same day.

The 31-year-old mum of three had very high blood sugar but said doctors and nurses were "unhelpful, unfriendly and unprofessional" and she should have "stayed at home and suffered".

Gemma claimed that when she asked for her notes, which she said were eventually given to her, staff threatened to call the police until she handed them back.

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust said she was given appropriate care and the Data Protection Act required her to write and request a copy of her notes.

Gemma said: "I had a really bad experience in Watford General, they were so unprofessional - they threatened to call the police on me.

"When I was leaving the hospital I asked for my notes to take to the GP, I was handed them by a junior doctor, and then the consultant said he'd call the police if I didn't hand them back.

"I ended up discharging myself. I was made to feel so uncomfortable there.

"I went in with high blood sugar, I needed to be put on insulin. I was diagnosed 24 years ago, I've spent quite a lot of time in and out of hospital - but it was like I had to explain how to do it to the doctors here. I also had an insulin pump, but it was like they didn't know how to look after it.

"I was threatened for asking for my own personal notes."

Gemma added: "I might as well have stayed at home, it would have been safer than going into Watford General."

Dr Mike van der Watt, the trust's medical director, said: “Our staff are trained to manage patients with diabetes and follow strict guidelines when patients present with this condition.

“Our records show that this patient attended our A&E at Watford on three separate occasions in the early hours of Monday, August 10, discharging herself on each occasion. We attempted to provide appropriate care up until the point at which she discharged herself from the department.

“With regard to patients taking their medical notes, as per the Data Protection Act 1998, patients wishing to have copies of their notes are required to submit a written request for them. Patients are not permitted to take original notes.”