NHS has let me down, says Cannock war veteran waiting to get prosthetics

Clive Smith is back to square-one after using prosthetics full-time for four years, and his girlfriend Jennifer Price has accused doctors of 'sheer incompetence'.

Mr Smith, aged 29, said: "It's been tough.

"We were told we would get the same level of care for my prosthetics on the NHS, but it just hasn't been." Miss Price added: "I'm absolutely livid. Clive doesn't want anything more than to live a normal life.

"He was serving Queen and country and all he asks in return is to be able to walk again."

Mr Smith lost both his legs in October 2010, when he stepped on an IED while leading a patrol in the district of Helmand.. He then threw himself into rehabilitation, and determinedly learnt to rebuild his life and walk again with the help of prosthetics.

But since January Mr Smith, who turns 30 in September, has been left in excruciating pain due to agonising rubbing leaving him unable to use his current prosthetics.

After months of waiting, he had an operation to repair the blistered skin at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, on June 1.

But two months later he is still waiting for his prosthetics to be remoulded.

Mr Smith took part in last year's gruelling Invictus Games, launched by Prince Harry, for charity but now his fitness has plummeted. His next hospital appointment is not expected until his 30th birthday on September 17 more than 14 weeks after his operation to repair the skin on his legs.

Mr Smith, who had hoped to be back on his prosthetics in time for his birthday, said: "It's quite disappointing. I'm 29, and I still have the best of my years ahead."

Now girlfriend Jennifer, along with friend Rachael Andrews, is petitioning the government for better care for the UK's ex-servicemen and women.

An NHS spokesman said: "We are disappointed that this has been Mr Smith's experience and we continue to have contact with him."

Miss Price's petition can be found at https://petition.parliament.uk/peti tions/104750