Home   News   Article

WATCH: Amputee former badminton world champion from Inverness challenges NHS Highland on ‘abysmal’ prosthetics care causing agony and distress





Steve Moodie, amputee. Picture: James Mackenzie
Steve Moodie, amputee. Picture: James Mackenzie

An amputee who defied a devastating workplace accident to become world para badminton champion is seeking to expose the dire state of NHS Highland’s prosthetics service.

Family man Steven Moodie (44) courageously dealt with the loss of his right leg below the knee after suffering a horrific crushing injury while using machinery in 2006.

Within five years, the telecoms manager had turned what had been a minor hobby with the racket into international success, winning a world championship gold in Guatemala.

For the best part of a decade, Mr Moodie felt in debt to Raigmore Hospital’s prosthetics staff with nothing too much trouble for now retired unit manager Derek Ritchie.

With the department’s help, the married father of four boys gained the confidence to overcome his disability and play a full part in family life.

Experiences since his first official complaint in 2017 have gradually undermined all of that.

The Moodie family, from left to right, back: Fletcher (7), mum Claire (40), Flynn (11) and, front: Fergie (3), Freddie (8), dad Steve (44).
The Moodie family, from left to right, back: Fletcher (7), mum Claire (40), Flynn (11) and, front: Fergie (3), Freddie (8), dad Steve (44).

More recently, he says the unreliability and repeated failures of the department have destroyed his self-confidence and mental health, as well as faith in the artificial limb components he relies upon.

Through these difficulties, Mr Moodie, of Moy Terrace, Inverness, has been off work since late August while dealing with persistent acute pain from faulty and ill-fitting prosthetics.

He fears his own experiences are just the tip of the iceberg, with many among the hundreds of people using the NHS Highland service suffering in silence.

Since Mr Moodie came forward to outline his concerns, the Courier has had contact with two others who say similar experiences have made life a misery.

Prosthetic leg. Picture: James Mackenzie
Prosthetic leg. Picture: James Mackenzie

Some are unwilling to publicly criticise the service given their reliance on it and their employment circumstances.

We have also seen the wording of two official complaints made by prosthetics outpatients to NHS Highland.

Recurring issues, it is claimed, include:

• lengthy periods with no prosthetic clinics, leaving those with issues uncared for and in pain;

• frequent understaffing of the department and a lack of staff cover for holiday and sick leave of technician and prosthetist;

• ill-fitting artificial limbs and months of delays in replacing and re-fitting broken limbs;

• poor personal care, misinformation and frequent misunderstanding of patients' needs;

• lacklustre treatment and lengthy delays during visits to the department itself.

Mr Moodie, a fit and active sportsman before his industrial accident, said: “When I first became an amputee, the service was fantastic. You felt valued. They were very welcoming and couldn’t do enough for you.

Steven Moodie, after winning gold and Bronze medals for Scotland at the World Para Badminton Championships.
Steven Moodie, after winning gold and Bronze medals for Scotland at the World Para Badminton Championships.

“It was only two or three weeks after my amputation that I was back up and walking. That's a huge credit to the service at the time. I felt they had a very clear grasp on my situation and needs.

“When you first become an amputee, you learn everything anew and latch onto anyone with the knowledge to help you and offer advice.

“You place a lot of faith and trust in them, as well as the actual components, to go about your life properly.

“I’m a 13 and a half stone man and if I’m jumping about with my kids or playing sport, I have to believe in the product. I had that. I was so fortunate. They fitted me and got me walking. It was onward and upward from there.

“I’ve always been naturally a very positive person and always recognised it could have been worse, say if the machinery had caught my waist or arms.

“My friends and family deserve huge credit for helping me stay positive, but the care I initially got was really important.

“I praised the NHS at the time to anybody who would listen. They were impeccable.

“We trialled different types of prosthetics and if, say, I snapped components while playing badminton, I could just pop in and they would remedy it.

Prosthetic leg. Picture: James Mackenzie
Prosthetic leg. Picture: James Mackenzie
Steve Moodie, amputee. Picture: James Mackenzie
Steve Moodie, amputee. Picture: James Mackenzie

“It is hard to describe just how much assurance and confidence that gives an amputee.”

After a few years, Mr Moodie attended the Murray Foundation run by ex-Rangers chairman David Murray. It ran events introducing amputees and people with disabilities to sport.

There, he discovered a real knack for badminton and after a demo from members of the English para-badminton team he beat them in a knockabout match.

That led to a number of international medals including the stunning Guatemala success.

Eventually, he quit competition to pour all energies into home life with his wife and boys.

From around 2017, though, his NHS experience deteriorated rapidly.

Mr Moodie explained: “It is very different now, how you are made to feel. You are treated more as a statistic. There is no personal care. It is abysmal.

“It has been a constant worry over the level of service and whether we get a service at all. It impacts everything in your life.

“I’m a full-time amputee and I haven’t even got a part-time clinic.

“It isn’t resourced properly and I don’t even think the people within Raigmore Hospital management appreciate that.

“My limb is extremely painful. I can’t concentrate at work. I take it off at night and get instant relief, but as I put my head down on the pillow I think ‘I’ve got to put that back on in the morning’. It eats away at you.

“I do try to carry myself in a positive manner, but it beats you down. I feel like I’m running on empty and that's why I’m signed off work.”

Family man: Eastgate Dinosaur Days with Fletcher, Flynn, Freddie and Steven Moodie. Picture: James MacKenzie.
Family man: Eastgate Dinosaur Days with Fletcher, Flynn, Freddie and Steven Moodie. Picture: James MacKenzie.
Steven and sister Lindsey Moodie ran the Inverness half marathon to raise money for Raigmore's prosthetics dept. Picture: Alison White
Steven and sister Lindsey Moodie ran the Inverness half marathon to raise money for Raigmore's prosthetics dept. Picture: Alison White

A recurring bone infection in his stump led to another inch and a half of bone being removed.

The necessary readjustments to artificial limbs brought into focus the deteriorated state of the service..

Mr Moodie said: “I came out of the operation to find there was no clinic, no service.

“There was no prosthetist, no technician - they were off for stress or long-term sick leave - and that left me wheelchair-bound for three-and-a-half weeks.

“It is a pattern that, sadly, has become the norm for so many people.

“I have never spoken about mental health before, but this is the worst I’ve ever been, far worse than after the accident itself.

“I’m very aware of the impact it is having on myself, my work and home life - all because nothing is improving.

“We have cancelled appointments and waits lasting months. I’ve turned up to find parts haven’t been ordered.

Steve Moodie, amputee. Picture: James Mackenzie
Steve Moodie, amputee. Picture: James Mackenzie

“I know I’m not alone. I’ve spoken to three members of staff who have also raised complaints. There are two amputees I speak closely with and they are similar.

“My fear now is we have reached the stage where lots of people, children, young adults and elderly folk, feel they just have to accept it.

“They are getting saddled with limbs that aren’t fitted properly, with all the pain and discomfort that brings.

“I’ve decided it is time to speak out.”

Another amputee, self-employed William Lobban (56) of Westhill, Inverness, echoed many of Mr Moodie’s complaints and experiences along the same timeline.

Mr Lobban, who lost his left leg below the knee after deep vein thrombosis, said: “I remember when you could turn up uninvited and, once they were free, they would see you and help.

“Now you can turn up for an appointment, wait an hour and then be told they can’t see you.

“It is very demoralising and demeaning. In recent years, I’ve never had a good feeling when attending the department.

“Staff are always off sick and I’ve had all kinds of issues.

Steven Moodie won gold and bronze medals for Scotland at the World Para Badminton Championships.
Steven Moodie won gold and bronze medals for Scotland at the World Para Badminton Championships.

“One consultant, who I won’t name, told me they were embarrassed by the service we are receiving.”

Mr Moodie has contacted local MSPs to voice his concerns.

Highland Conservative MSP Edward Mountain said: “I have been working with various patients who have used the prosthetics service offered by NHS Highland.

“There seem to be considerable problems with the service they have been provided. Having raised the matter with the prosthetics department, I remain unsatisfied by the answers.

“I have therefore raised the matter directly with the chief executive of NHS Highland, Fiona Davies, with whom I have a meeting scheduled to discuss the specific issues that have been brought to my attention.”

NHS Highland were asked in detail about the various complaints and issues raised and specifically asked if, and why, there was such a staffing shortfall.

A spokesman for NHS Highland responded: “We are sorry the patient has not received the care they would expect.

“We are unable to comment on individual cases and would always encourage patients to contact our feedback team so their case can be considered in more detail.

“We recognise the need to continually improve our services, and patient feedback and experience are crucial to this process.”

• Have you or a member of your family experienced difficulties with NHS Highland’s prosthetics service? Contact alasdair.fraser@hnmedia.co.uk


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More