A WOTTON man who had his leg amputated in hospital claims he frequently had nothing to eat – despite needing a structured diet because of his diabetes.

Michael Boreham, 45, stayed in Southmead Hospital while having his leg amputated as a result of diabetes from October 23 to November 7.

He has now criticised the food service at the hospital, as well as directing complaints at South West Ambulance Service for their apparently disorganised efforts.

Mr Boreham was admitted to Southmead Hospital to have a below-the-knee amputation on his right leg due to a diabetic foot ulcer.

As an insulin dependent diabetic, Mr Boreham requires a structured diet to retain control of his sugar levels.

He said: “It’s important that I have a balanced diet and I was put in a situation where some days I wouldn’t get anything to eat.

“They would come down in the morning to take orders but say they only ever had a limited amount of meals.

“If 10 people chose the main course before me, and that was the amount they had, I would be forced to have a cheese sandwich or nothing at all.

“It’s worrying for me because if my blood sugar drops below a certain level I could slip into a coma. Plus, After having the leg amputated, it was very important I ate well to get my strength back up.”

Mr Boreham said he raised his concerns with a supervisor during his stay but that the issue was dismissed as a “management decision”.

He saidcontinued: “They’ve got a brand new hospital — but the food service there is absolutely appalling.”

Hospital food was not the only issue encountered by Mr Boreham following his leg amputation. After returning home on Friday, November 7, he knocked his leg on a table causing fairly heavy blood loss.

After calling for an ambulance at around mid-afternoon, a first-responder arrived within 20 minutes.

Though the first responder treated the leg, it was not until about 10pm when he was finally transported back to the hospital.

When leaving his home, heMr Boreham claims paramedics provided no assistance in getting down the steps to the road, leaving him hopping down several stairs on his wounded leg.

“It’s definitely a manpower issue and it’s definitely a communication issue. It’s disgraceful.”

Director of facilities for North Bristol NHS Trust Simon Wood said: “In response to feedback from the wards the way patients choose their meals during their hospital stay changed on November 10.

“While previously there was a limit to the number of specific meal options available to each ward area patients are now able to order whatever they want from the menu.

“We are sorry Mr Boreham was not happy with the meal service that was provided during his time in hospital. We ask patients to speak to a member of ward staff if they are not happy with the food they have been served.

“Patient meals are cooked in-house by the trust’s award-winning catering team using high-quality ingredients. Dietitians are involved in planning nutritionally balanced meals for patients and all menu options are suitable for diabetics.

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: “An initial call was received at 3.12pm on Friday, November 7, and a Paramedic in a Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) was on scene at 3.30pm.

“The paramedic treated Mr Boreham at his home address and also arranged for transport to take him to Southmead Hospital in Bristol. This transport arrived at 9.57pm and Mr Boreham arrived at Southmead Hospital approximately 40 minutes later. We are confident that the paramedic provided the right care while the patient was waiting to be taken to Southmead.

“The trust is very sorry for the delay Mr Boreham experienced. SWASFT would encourage Mr Boreham to contact us directly so that we can fully investigate the incident.”

Southmead, a £430 million “super hospital”, opened its doors in May this year.