In 2015, the procedure was only available in Australia and the £110,000 cost of the operation was paid for by his former regiment.
But in 2019 he developed lymphoma, a form of cancer, and had to undergo chemotherapy. While he was receiving treatment for the disease, he developed a serious infection that meant that the implant had to be removed or he faced losing the remainder of his leg and potentially his life.
Doctors told Mr Baldwin 18 months ago that the implant can be refitted, but the NHS has refused to allow the operation to go ahead.
The former soldier said: “The NHS’s refusal to help has left me feeling very low. This has had a significant impact on my mental health.
“I don’t think I’ve actually felt as bad as I do now since I was wounded – I feel completely abandoned. Back then, I had the full support of the Army to help me. Now I really feel on my own. The last 18 months have also taken its toll on my family. I’m sure I’m not the only wounded veteran who feels let down by the government.
“I am now wheelchair bound and I have put on three stone in weight. I am not paralysed, but because of this bureaucratic nightmare I have been left in a wheelchair.
“I served my country and put my life on the line. I almost died and I have never complained about my treatment until now. I’m not asking for much – none of this is my fault. The procedure worked brilliantly for me and I had a new life after losing my legs. Then I got cancer and fought that. Now I feel as though I have been completely abandoned.”
Mr Baldwin, who joined the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment in January 2004, aged 17, said: “The Army was my life. I just got the bug for it. I loved my job as a sergeant, I loved the responsibility of managing people.”
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
