A distraught mother says hospitals are ignoring her son who has been left in agony and unable to walk after the sudden onset of a mystery illness.

Sarah Chandler, of Wood End Avenue, South Harrow, is enlisting the help of a solicitor after being "let down" by GPs and three London hospitals in her attempts to get a diagnosis and treatment for her terrified 13-year-old son Ethan.

The 46-year-old said: "Our whole life has fallen apart. They literally ignored him. I don't know what they want me to do. It's heartbreaking. I cannot shout loud enough."

Ethan, who has suffered from stomach pain from the age of seven, underwent a colonoscopy at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in February.

But a week later he began to experience pain and hyper sensitivity in his legs - the Douay Martyrs pupil has been wheelchair bound ever since.

They went to see his GP on March 7, who referred him to Great Ormond Street but the specialist children's hospital refused to take him.

Ethan was then readmitted to Chelsea and Westminster through A&E on March 10 and discharged seven days later.

A now desperate Mrs Chandler took her son to University College London Hospital (UCLH) where again he was admitted via A&E on March 21 before being discharged after four days.

The mother-of-five said: "He came home and seven days later he couldn't walk. He's been in a wheelchair for six weeks.

"We've attended two hospitals and neither has done anything - we still don't have a diagnosis and no treatment. Great Ormond Street Hospital even rejected his referral.

"At Chelsea and Westminster and UCLH not one person asked to see him walk. When UCLH discharged him they said he was not hypermobile and had chronic pain and hypersensitivity - my milkman could tell us that."

Ethan has been prescribed four hours of physio but, given the severity of his current condition, Mrs Chandler is sceptical the therapy will have any effect.

She said her son was putting a brave face on but is constant pain and worried the illness will have devastating long term consequences.

Mrs Chandler said: "He doesn't know if he'll walk again. He can't stand because it hurts his legs, he can't go outside because the sunlight hurts his legs, he can't go in the shower because the water hurts his legs - you couldn't blow on his legs because it would hurt him.

"Can you imagine the effect this is having on him personally and for us as a family?"

Jon Hanlon, spokesman for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said Ethan's case was managed appropriately.

He said: "Although it would be wrong to comment on specific details due to patient confidentiality, we have taken this opportunity to review the notes and are satisfied that we managed the case appropriately.

"We have every sympathy with Mrs Chandler and her son and would be happy to welcome them back to our hospital to speak to our specialists, as we understand that this is a very difficult and upsetting time and will do all we can to help."

Sharon Spiteri, spokesman for UCLH, said: "We are sorry to hear that Mrs Chandler is unhappy with her son’s treatment at UCLH.

"Although his consultant has already discussed the management plan for his condition in detail with Mrs Chandler, we will be contacting her to find out what more we can do to help.

"We also have a complaints process in place if she wishes to raise any issues.

"We are keen to ensure the highest standards of patient care and will do our best to resolve any problems quickly."