Groom forced to have his toes partially amputated after being given wedding shoes that were too tight
A groom was forced to have his toes partially amputated after being given a pair of orthotic shoes for his wedding that were too tight.
Martin Ralph, 61, complained about the shoes being too small and uncomfortable but was reassured by NHS staff that they just needed 'breaking in'.
He wore them to tie the knot with his wife Melissa, 61, on July 27, 2019, but had to change out of them after a few hours because they left his feet in agony.
A few weeks later, the father of four went to hospital with an abscess on his right big toe where dead tissue was removed and his toe was washed out.
This exposed the first joint and a decision was made to amputate the toe at the knuckle.
Over the next four years Mr Ralph from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, developed further issues with his foot and ended up losing three more toes.
Mr Ralph, who formerly owned a cleaning business, has now been left unable to work and can no longer walk unaided.
He claims his feet were incorrectly measured three times and his concerns ignored.
After taking legal action against Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, they admitted a breach in their duty of care and apologised.
They accepted that if Mr Ralph had been given correctly-fitting footwear, he would not have developed the blister or ulceration and suffered the amputation of his right big toe.
Mr Ralph said: 'I had measurements taken 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.'
Mr Ralph requires specialist shoes because of his pre-existing diabetes, he needs wider-fitted footwear because tight shoes can cause corns and affect blood and nerve supply to the feet.
He added: '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.'
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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