A marathon-running grandad who's big toe became infected had to have his leg amputated - after being sent home from hospital with painkillers.
Avid sportsman James Devlin, 63, visited hospital three times in six weeks after he dropped a wardrobe on his foot and pleaded for treatment. But after being sent home from hospital with tablets, his toes started turning black and he was diagnosed with gangrene and reduced blood flow to his lower left leg.
And just days later, surgeons were forced to amputate his limb, forcing him to take several months off from his job as a charity collection and delivery driver. James now needs a wheelchair to get around and is reliant on his wife, Jeanette, 59.
The trust that runs the hospital has denied liability for James’ amputation, but he has now instructed lawyers to investigate his care. He said: “I can’t look after the grandkids by myself because they’re at an age where they’re so full of energy and want to run about that I can’t keep up with them.
“Before all this, I was extremely active. I’d played football and ran all my life and would often have weekends away cycling. Sport and exercise meant so much to me and I also got a lot out of helping train others. Me and Jeanette loved going away on holiday and would get away as often as we could.
“However, that’s all completely gone. It’s sometimes difficult to find the words to describe how my life has changed. It’s not just the physical injuries which have been hard to come to terms with but also the psychological impact.”
James, from Pellon, near Halifax, West Yorkshire, visited the A&E at Calderdale Royal Hospital on February 14, 2020, five weeks after injuring his toe. He was initially sent home with painkillers, but over the coming weeks, he visited the hospital twice more as his agony grew worse.
James attended A&E again just over a month later, on March 29, and was admitted to the hospital where he was told his left toes had turned gangrenous. A CT scan confirmed reduced blood flow to his lower left leg and he underwent surgery to amputate part of his limb a week later, on April 6.
Examinations found he had a blood clot behind his left knee. James spent four days in hospital before returning home, and he initially needed a wheelchair to get around. He had to take several months off from his job, and while he has returned to work, he is currently part-time, and desk-bound.
James now has a prosthetic leg but still struggles to walk because of ongoing pain caused by the prosthesis, so still uses a wheelchair as well. He said: “I’m a lot more reliant on Jeanette and the rest of the family.
“While I now have a prosthetic limb which means I can get about a little more there are days where I’m in severe pain while my body gets used to it. It’s not too bad indoors but outside I can only walk a couple of hundred yards as the pain gets too much.
“I’m also accident prone when outside as the terrain can be different. I can’t walk on grass, as although it looks even, it’s often not and the slightest bump or change in the surface can mean I fall.
“Work have been brilliant with me. Returning to work has given me a boost but it’s still difficult as rather than being out and about meeting people, I’m at a desk putting donated items online for sale.
“The work is still rewarding as it’s for charity, but I miss the face-to-face interaction I used to have.”
James said he's now focused on his recovery and hopes he can help others by speaking out about his traumatic experience.
He said: “Despite everything I’m determined not to be defined by my disability and live as a full a life as I can. I’m focused on my recovery and setting myself little goals.
“It’s likely to be some way off yet but things like getting back on a bike or helping out more with the grandkids would mean so much to me. I just hope that by speaking out others in a similar situation don’t feel they have to go through it alone. There is a lot of support out there.”
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, denied liability for James’ amputation. But James has instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his care.
Rebecca Pearey, from the law firm, said: “While nothing can make up for what’s happened, we’re determined to support James and his family by ensuring he has access to the specialist care and therapies he needs to continue his recovery and live as independently as possible."
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust have been approached for comment.
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