By Phil Green

ANGRY grandparents are to write to the Prime Minister about the lack of facilities for sick youngsters in Bolton.

Robert and Anne Cummings were appalled that their seriously ill granddaughter Gemma Wilson had to be taken to Sheffield for treatment.

The Great Lever couple believe the condition that threatened the three-and-a-half-month-old girl's life could have been treated sooner if special facilities existed closer to home.

Tiny Gemma, who is a twin, was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital when she began to have breathing difficulties.

It is believed she was suffering from bronchiolitis and her condition steadily worsened.

Gemma needed specialist ventilation but parents Anna Cummings, aged 22, and Colin Wilson, aged 23, were horrified when they were told it could not be done at Bolton.

A desperate phone-around by consultants revealed there were no beds available for Gemma at children's units in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds. But they were given a lifeline when a bed was found available at Sheffield Children's Hospital.

Mr Wilson travelled to the hospital with his daughter but mum Anna was forced to stay behind to look after their four other children.

She had to endure a nightmare couple of days sat by the phone waiting of news of her daughter.

Over the weekend, Gemma began to respond to treatment at the Sheffield Hospital and is now on the road to recovery.

Mrs Cummings, aged 47, said: "My daughter has been sat by the phone in tears for days.

"We took her to see Gemma for the first time on Sunday but could not stay very long. They cannot afford to leave the other children or the travel costs.

"We are going to straight to the top by writing to Mr Blair. It's no good the Government talking about money they are going to invest and how things will improve in a few years time. We need action now.

"How many people are going to have to go through this before something is done?

"When I think of all the money that has gone to waste it makes me furious. There is Lottery money, money for that stupid Dome but there is no money to buy equipment to save babies' lives."

Officials at the Royal Bolton said they did everything they could to help Gemma the Royal remained a district hospital rather than a specialist children's hospital.

A spokesman said: "It is considered better for more seriously ill children to be treated in a specialist unit."

Dr Brian Iddon, MP for Bolton South-east, has agreed to investigate the case.