Ayla-May Russell, who is now in a stable condition, needed a drip and an emergency oxygen machine at Doncaster Royal Infirmary to keep her alive over the weekend when nurses described her as "dehydrated" and "lifeless", according to her parents.

However, distressed dad Robert Russell says his daughter "could have been dead" had he and his partner Hailey Wood, 25, not rushed her to Accident and Emergency last Wednesday - hours after, they claim, they were turned away from their local GP practice.

Ayla-May, who was born eight weeks prematurely, has since been diagnosed with a partially collapsed lung and bronchiolitis - inflammation of the airways which can prevent breathing.

She has now left intensive care but remains under the watchful eye of nurses at DRI.

Her parents, of Rushy Moor Avenue, claim they could not be seen at the new White Wings NHS Centre in Askern last Wednesday - and say they were told to try telephoning again the next day.

Last Tuesday a stand-in doctor allegedly told the pair at an appointment to "keep trying to feed her milk and everything will be all right", according to 24-year-old Robert.

Last week the Free Press reported that 75 per cent of family doctors' practices in the borough were now offering extended opening times and more appointments - in line with Government targets.

However, Mr Russell blasted: "They've spent millions of pounds doing the White Wings Centre up - saying it's going to be opening late and everything - but they won't see a 12-week old baby there.

"I don't think it's fair these practices are being praised when this sort of thing is happening. It's absolutely disgusting.

"If they'd seen her on Wednesday it would've been sorted. If I'd left it till Thursday she could've been dead."

Mr Russell, whose 21-month-old son Riley was also born prematurely and is still attending check-ups, said he planned to lodge an official complaint with Doncaster Primary Care Trust and is considering legal action.

"Obviously this couldn't have been avoided but the earlier you start treating it the better," he said.

"I'll just take her straight to A&E should anything like this happen again. The staff at the hospital are absolutely fabulous and they don't get enough praise.

"She's in the right place now. She's on a course of antibiotics and hopefully she's going to move forward and get better. It's just a waiting game now.

"We can't thank our friends, family and the staff at DRI enough. Without them we couldn't have got through this."

According to its website, the White Wings Centre, which opened last month, is open from 8am to 8pm on Wednesdays. Last Wednesday it is believed to have closed at midday for training purposes - a common arrangement at practices across the borough.