Pensioner loses limb in plaster

Tom Talks said he had complained about the pain

A pensioner had to have his leg amputated after it "died" in a plaster cast which he had complained about being too tight.

Tom Talks, of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, had to have an emergency amputation above the knee.

The 80-year-old said he had "begged and pleaded" to get the cast taken off.

Pennine Acute NHS Trust, which runs Fairfield Hospital in Bury where Mr Talks was treated, said it had received a complaint and was investigating.

Mr Talks had the cast fitted on his right leg after breaking it while walking his dog.

He experienced discomfort shortly after the cast was fitted at Fairfield in May.

Anger never does anyone any good in my opinion, I'm a forward-looking person Tom Talks

Mr Talks said: "The pressure in my leg was such I felt as though it was trying to burst through the skin.

"I was begging and pleading with them to release the plaster because I couldn't stand the pain.

"I went to the hospital every day for a week begging them to remove it. Every time I was told: 'Take some stronger painkillers'."

He said that when an incision was finally made in the plaster to release the pressure "it sprang apart 2in" and the bandages underneath were left on.

Two days later Mr Talks tripped during a visit to his GP and medics warned him he was in danger of losing his life.

Mr Talks said: "They said 'Your leg is absolutely dead and there is absolutely nothing that can be done for it'."

Mr Talks said the operation brought on a heart attack and renal failure. He is still in hospital.

Formal complaints

His grandson has made an official complaint to the hospital on his behalf.

Mr Talks said: "Obviously it was an error. I should have had my leg attended to but because it wasn't I've lost my leg.

"But anger never does anyone any good in my opinion, I'm a forward-looking person. All I'm hoping for is this is shown up so this doesn't happen again."

A spokesman for The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We can confirm that a complaint has been received from the family of Mr Talks.

"As this matter is now part of the formal complaints process, we cannot comment further at this stage."