Tri-Service

Veteran Confined To Wheelchair For Eight Months After NHS Delays

A veteran who lost both his legs in Afghanistan has been left confined to a wheelchair for eight months because of NHS delays.

Clive Smith, 29, from Wolverhampton, a Lance Corporal in 33 Engineer Regiment, had learned to walk again on prosthetic legs - but now he needs new ones made.

Under the Armed Forces Covenant, service personnel are meant to be prioritised for NHS treatment, but Clive claims the standard of care he's received has fallen below that he would have received in the military.

More from Forces TV: Armed Forces Covenant In Action

The covenant, which was made into law in 2011, promises that veterans will be sustained and rewarded for their service - and crucially, that they shouldn’t be disadvantaged by serving their country.

NHS England, meanwhile, told Forces TV that veterans are entitled to seek priority treatment for conditions relating to their service, and that they are continuing to work closely with rehabilitation centres to ensure veterans receive care as quickly and easily as possible.