A groom ended up having his foot partially amputated – after being fitted with wedding shoes which were too tight.
Martin Ralph, 61, was given the new pair of orthotic footwear just in time for his big day on July 27, 2019.
Despite complaining about them being too small and uncomfortable he was reassured by NHS staff they just needed “breaking in”.
Martin wore the shoes as he tied the knot with wife Melissa, 61, but had to change out of them after a few hours after they left his feet in agony.
A few weeks later, he went to hospital with an abscess on his right big toe where dead tissue was removed and his toe was washed out.
However, this exposed the first joint and a decision was made to amputate the toe at the knuckle.
Over the next four years dad-of-four Martin developed further issues with his foot and ended up losing three more toes.
Martin, who formerly owned a cleaning business, has now been left unable to work and suffers from ongoing pain while being unable to walk unaided.
He went on to take legal against against Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, which has now admitted a breach in their duty of care and apologised.
Martin needs specialist shoes due to his pre-existing diabetes. Diabetics often require wider-fitted footwear as tight shoes can cause corns and affect blood and nerve supply to the feet, according to the NHS.
Martin claims his feet were incorrectly measured three times – and when he raised concerns, he was told they just needed “wearing in”.
Grandfather-of-five Martin, of Chesham, Bucks., said: “I had measurements taken at at Amersham Hospital but they were measured too small.
“I told them at the time of the fitting that they were too small. Three times I went back but I was told by the lady who did the measurements I just had to wear them in.
“Halfway through the wedding day one foot was getting particularly sore. I had to change into my boots.
“Orthotic boots is what I normally wear but I wanted to wear a shoe for my wedding. I was delighted to get them in time as I had been waiting months for them.
“When I tried the shoes again, even going out the door, I was struggling. Whenever I came home it was a relief to take them off, it was that tight.
“When I took my sock off my toe was three times the size it should have been.
“I reported my concerns, but it wasn’t until a few weeks later that I noticed a blister on my foot which gradually got worse.”
The blister later become infected and began to spread up his right leg and Martin says he was also warned his leg might need amputating too.
He added: “The doctor said it was infected and we got antibiotics but then this red line started to appear and it went up my leg.
“We went to Stoke Mandeville Hospital. They said I was either going to lose my toe or my leg. They got me in the ward and said they were going to clean it.
“When I woke up it was painful. They told me it was too far gone and that they had to amputate my toe. When they pulled the cover back you could see the bone.
“It was like a butcher had been there, I was in shock.
“Having to undergo amputation of my toe was horrific, but I was hopeful that was the end of it.
“Sadly not. To see the state of my foot now is terribly upsetting, especially when it could have been prevented so easily.
“There are so many things I struggle with now. Even just moving around is difficult.
“I used to be fit and active, I have worked since I was 17, now I struggle to do anything.
“I know nothing will bring my toes back or fix my foot, but I hope that by speaking out I can help ensure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
The Trust admitted a breach of duty in failing to provide Martin with a further clinical appointment to ensure the correct fitting of his orthotic footwear upon collection.
They accepted if Martin had been given correctly-fitting footwear, he would not have developed the blister or ulceration and suffered the amputation of his right big toe.
The Trust “sincerely” apologised for the “shortcomings” in Martin’s care.
In legal correspondence, they also admitted that given his medical history, Martin should have been offered an emergency appointment after explaining his new shoes were not fitting.
Alexandra Highfield, the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Martin, said: “The past few years have been incredibly difficult for Martin, firstly undergoing the amputation of his toe and then having to go through additional operations as a result of not being provided with the correct shoes.
“What should have been a simple task has now left him having to deal with restricted mobility for the rest of his life.
“He’s also understandably struggling with the psychological impact of his injuries.
“While there’s nothing that can be done to change what Martin and his family have gone through, they shouldn’t be in this position.
“This is an example of where a simple mistake can have devastating consequences.
“It’s now vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety. We therefore welcome the Trust’s admission.”
A Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust spokesperson said: “We are very sorry for the shortcomings of care Mr Ralph experienced between April and August 2019 and we accept that his care fell below the standard expected.
“The Trust is determined to use the learning from this incident to ensure that no other patient experiences a similar outcome.
“For example, we are strengthening our protocols for assessing and monitoring patients at risk of foot complication.”
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