My shoes were too tight on the day I got married then they had to amputate my toes

A groom ended up having his foot partially amputated – after being fitted with wedding shoes which were too tight.Martin Ralph, 61, was given the new pair of orthotic footwear just in time for his big day on July 27, 2019.Despite complaining about them being too small and uncomfortable he was reassured by NHS staff they just needed “breaking in”.Martin wore the shoes as he tied the knot with wife Melissa, 61, but had to change out of them after a few hours after they left his feet in agony.A few weeks later, he went to hospital with an abscess on his right big toe where dead tissue was removed and his toe was washed out.However, this exposed the first joint and a decision was made to amputate the toe at the knuckle.Over the next four years dad-of-four Martin developed further issues with his foot and ended up losing three more toes.Martin, who formerly owned a cleaning business, has now been left unable to work and suffers from ongoing pain while being unable to walk unaided.He went on to take legal against against Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, which has now admitted a breach in their duty of care and apologised.Martin needs specialist shoes due to his pre-existing diabetes.Diabetics often require wider-fitted footwear as tight shoes can cause corns and affect blood and nerve supply to the feet, according to the NHS.Martin claims his feet were incorrectly measured three times – and when he raised concerns, he was told they just needed “wearing in”.Grandfather-of-five Martin, of Chesham, Bucks., said: “I had measurements taken at 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 ...