British health officials say they are investigating claims a patient admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties was forced to do a 23-mile journey home on foot.

Peter Rees was taken by ambulance to Glangwili’s accident and emergency unit in Carmarthen, west Wales on December 31 because he was struggling to catch his breath.

Doctors diagnosed the 62-year-old with a chest infection. But the father-of-three has voiced his anger after claiming he was sent on his way at 2am on New Year’s Day without being offered any help to get home.

Mr Rees, who said he did not have a wallet on him due to his emergency admission, reportedly walked 12 miles on dark country roads until a passing police car gave him a lift.

“It was dreadful; the most horrible night of my life. I had dark clothing on, I was feeling most unwell and I had to walk on unlit roads on one of the most dangerous nights of the year,” the South Wales Evening Post quoted him as saying. “I was literally clinging on to bramble bushes as I edged along the hedgerow in the face of oncoming traffic. I was shattered, freezing, I felt giddy and I lost my footing more than once.”

Mr Rees had been at home in the village of Llanwrda on New Year’s Eve when he was hit by a bout of uncontrollable coughing and shortness of breath. He was examined by a paramedic at home, who called for an ambulance to admit him to hospital. After X-rays, blood tests and an examination Mr Rees was told he could go home.