Man's leg amputated because cast was too tight

A Rochdale man had to have his leg amputated because doctors allegedly fit him with a cast that was too tight.

80-year old Tom Talks broke his ankle when out walking his dog and had to have it put in a cast at Fairfield General Hospital in Bury.

The cast caused him severe pain and he went back to hospital several times to complain. At first doctors refused to loosen the cast but when Mr Talks collapsed, surgeons removed the cast and found an infection that was so severe that the leg had to be amputed.

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'.

Mr Talks' leg was amputated from above the knee at North Manchester General Hospital. He remains in hospital. He said his grandson Karl Sanderson made an official complaint to the hospital on his behalf.

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."

Mr Talks' dog Becky is currently in the care of Rochdale based On Track Dog Training Service. Owner Cath Phillips said: "We would like to wish Tom a speedy recovery. Tom has been desperately ill but against all odds is now recovering and we look forward to seeing Tom and his wife  re-united with Becky."