A £40,000 fund-raising appeal has been launched to fund a operation for an Evesham woman

- because she says she has been refused the life-saving treatment on the NHS five times

Former veterinary receptionist Dawn Read has been left partially blind due from resistant hypertension, and says the condition will "kill" her.

The 54-year-old, who has been suffering with extremely high blood pressure for a decade and has had two strokes as a result, applied to the NHS for an exceptional funding grant for barroreceptor therapy, an operation where the arteries are encased with a wire-type material to lower blood pressure, similar to a pace maker - but has been refused.

Mrs Read, of St Davids Drive, who used to foster children, now spends much of her time in hospital due to her debilitating condition, which is causing damage to her organs, and means she is unable to drive, read or work.

She said: "It is a bit sad really - I believed you pay your national insurance and pay your dues and the National Health Service should be there when you need it.

"It is difficult - I have become very isolated and it has taken my independence away."

The mum-of-three, who lives with her husband Michael, and has three children Martha, 24, Luke, 22, and Ruth Righton, aged 30, hopes to have the operation carried out at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Her niece Katie McGinley has set up a Crowdfunding page, to raise £40,000, and so far £500 has been raised.

Mrs Read said: "I am so grateful for the generous donations everyone has been so good. I would not be doing this if I had any other option.

"Otherwise it (the condition) is going to get me."

Miss McGinley added: "She now desperately needs this operation as her blood pressure being continuously high for so long, has had a huge impact on her major organs. Her heart and kidneys have been damaged and she is severely partially sighted.

"This operation would not only save her life but would improve her quality of life enormously. She has been told if she does not receive the operation soon she is at risk of a catastrophic event such as a major stroke."

Her illness began to intensify about three years ago.

To make a donation, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/dawns-fund.

An NHS England spokesman said: "We have real sympathy with patients facing these illnesses. Individual requests for funding are assessed against clinical evidence and individual circumstances and on this occasion NHS England was not able to support this request."