SHE is already in agony with a condition that normally affects the elderly.

But now a three-year-old girl’s pain has been prolonged after a hospital cancelled an appointment to ease her condition.

Rose Ayling’s juvenile arthritis in her knees, ankles and wrist has left the toddler struggling to walk and reliant on the pain-relieving jabs.

Rose was due to have a steroid injection that takes an hour to administer on Tuesday but it was put back to September 7 at short notice.

Mum Mandi Ayling, of Shepherds Field, Martyr Worthy, criticised medical chiefs at Southampton General Hospital who told her that other emergency cases had been prioritised ahead of Rose at the clinic.

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She said her daughter’s case was urgent as the condition has got so bad that the toddler’s ankles are severely swollen.

“It’s disgusting,” said the 33-year-old, referring to the cancelled appointment.

“They gave me no explanation until a week later.

“I just want to take the pain away,”

added Mrs Ayling, who also has a son, James, four. “I’m doing my best but to see her in agony is killing me, I’m exhausted at being up with her.”

The youngster was diagnosed with the condition in her left knee in April, but it has since spread to four other joints. Her mum revealed her daughter was having to take an ibuprofen syrup, paracetamol and even codeine to ease the symptoms.

Rose had a steroid injection – which takes around an hour to administer – in June to help ease her pain. Mrs Ayling said the treatment lasts for six weeks and that it was urgent her daughter had another one in August.

“She’s in agony now,” added Mrs Ayling. “Previously when it’s got really bad her joints seize and she struggles to walk or hold a pen.

“She has trouble moving her fingers and her ankles are pointing inwards because they’re so swollen.

“My daughter is my main concern but I want her to do as much as she can.

She is in agony but she wanted to do 30 minutes of activities today – you try telling a three-year-old you can’t even do something for 30 minutes.

“At the end of the day she’s my little girl and I hate seeing her in pain.”

Dr Michael Marsh, medical director at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Unfortunately from time to time we have to prioritise emergency cases which means we occasionally have to postpone patient appointments.

“However, we will always try to rearrange visits as quickly as possible.”

Mrs Ayling said she would not find out the full extent of her daughter’s arthritis until six months after diagnosis, around October time.

The youngster has also recently been told she is anaemic.