Four patients at University Hospital Galway may lose their legs if the HSE does not sign off on a new treatment for their conditions.

Former teacher Brendan O'Higgins pictured outside his home on Tuesday afternoon. Thanks to the treatment not only did Mr Higgins save his leg but was able to resume his golf game after five years. Photo: Reg Gordon

The usual last-resort treatment for severely ulcerated legs is amputation, but a new cure piloted on 37 patients at UHG over the last year enabled many patients to retain the ulcerated limbs. Using an oxygen chamber over an extended period of time, doctors were able to avoid amputating the limbs of these patients.

The four in-patients waiting to begin oxygen treatment at UHG are currently being given intravenous antibiotics. If the antibiotics do not work, all four may lose their legs.

One patient with severely infected ulcers in both legs, who did not wish to be named, told the Galway Independent that he had been told he could begin treatment on Monday. However, his start date has been put off indefinitely.

"I've been told they can't get use of the machines because of some administrative thing. This is the difference between me getting cured and not cured. I am now running the risk of contracting septicaemia and the loss of both legs, and I'm not even the worst person in here. It's a disgrace to think things are being held up by red tape," he explained.

The eight machines which are used for the treatment, worth an estimated €40,000 each, are currently in a store-room at UHG. The procedure has been cleared by the Federal Drugs Authority in the US, the Irish Medical Board, and even UHG's own Ethics Committee. However, the delay in beginning the treatment on a full scale is allegedly being caused by a lack of action at a management level in the HSE. However, a HSE spokesperson said yesterday, "The hyperbaric oxygen chamber for the treatment of leg ulcers has been introduced in GUH on a limited basis pending formal approval for participation in a clinical trial to examine the efficacy of the oxygen treatment in the healing of chronic non-healing venous ulcers and compare the outcome to that of compression dressings which is the recognized treatment for venous ulcers."

According to Brendan O'Higgins, who had the treatment last year, "it's a miracle."

"I began the treatment in October 2006. I had gone through a certain amount of trauma with my leg. Amputation was being considered, and I was referred to UHG. When the words 'limb salvage' were mentioned to me, that made me feel a bit happier. They had just got this therapy in from the States, and they felt that it would save my leg. I was on it for 14 continuous weeks, for three hours in the morning and three in the evening seven days a week," he said.

Describing the difference the treatment has made to his life, Mr O'Higgins explained, "I'm 97 per cent better than when I started. I have a much better standard and quality of life than I was expecting. I might have got used to an amputated leg ? you get on with whatever you're dealt ? but now I can walk short distances, I can do a little bit of shopping. It's a miracle really."

A spokesperson for the HSE was unavailable for comment.

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