HEALTH chiefs have said they will meet a York mother who has been refused surgery to repair her nose after a vicious beating by her ex-boyfriend to discuss her case.

The Press revealed this week how Rebecca Beattie, 25, was turned down for the funding needed for corrective and cosmetic surgery on the injuries she suffered when she was attacked by her former partner Bradley Scot Want last year.

She was diagnosed with a grossly deviated septum, splayed nasal bones and fractures, and has been left virtually unable to breathe through her nose. She was refused the surgery by an exceptions panel which assesses applications for treatment.

Rebecca's case has been taken up by York Central MP Hugh Bayley and her family and friends have been raising money to pay for private treatment if necessary, but this is expected to cost about £5,500.

Dr Mark Hayes, chief clinical officer of the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group, said today: "Having recently taken over responsibility for local NHS funding, I have great sympathy with the lady at the centre of this case.

"I would welcome the opportunity to meet with her to discuss how we can find a solution to her problems. The CCG takes patient confidentiality very seriously, which means we cannot discuss the details of this case in public."

Rebecca, who has a four-year-old son, told The Press she believed the funding decision was "shocking", saying she now cannot breathe through one nostril and can barely breathe through the other, seriously affecting her sleep. She said: "It's not just the physical damage - every time I look in the mirror, I have a constant reminder of what I had to endure.

"I want to move on and this is the last thing holding me back."

Want was jailed for 16 months last year after attacking Rebecca at their home. Rebecca has said that if the NHS rethinks its decision, money raised towards private treatment for her injuries will be donated to a women's refuge.

Writing in The Press this week about Rebecca's case and health funding in general, Mr Bayley said it showed "just how distressing it is for patients who are refused treatment". He said he had raised her case with the Vale of York CCG and has lobbied Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt over shortfalls in healthcare funding for the York area.