A man who relies on NHS home visits after two serious injuries has claimed “things just get worse and worse” after being told a vital service is being cut because staff need to "have their lunch".

Albert Drew, 87, of Debden Broadway, was left with a severely damaged spine in 1962 when he attempted to lift weights that were heavier than he realised.

In 2011, Mr Drew was injured further and left house-bound when he fell over and he now relies on a walking frame to move around his flat.

His wife Mary, 83, is his official carer but he relies on a podiatry home-visit service from the South Essex Partnership Trust for care to his feet.

Mr Drew has diabetes and is vulnerable to diseases like gangrene if he gets a small cut on his feet, possibly leading to amputation, so the care must be done by professionals.

Several weeks ago, he was informed staff could no longer visit in the morning, despite Mr Drew resting in the afternoon because of sleep and prostate problems.

“It is really bloody ridiculous, I have had this service for a long time,” he said.

“It has never been a problem, someone comes along and I get my feet seen to.

“Then the letter came along and said no more ‘am’ services.

“What is going on, why is nobody available in the morning?

“They came up with this ridiculous explanation, they said the podiatrist has to have their lunch.

“Why have they made this cut?”

His wife Mary said the service is already insufficient, with no visits since October 2014 despite a requirement for one visit every six weeks.

She added they are anxiously waiting for more information and are worried about the future.

She said: “I am lucky that I have got my health.

“If I was not here he could not manage on his own, it is not fair, it is definitely a problem.

“We are waiting to hear back, I do not know what will happen to him.”

Epping Forest Guardian:

Mr and Mrs Drew are concerned about the future of the home care service

Mr Drew said he does not understand why the service has been changed, and it has not been properly explained to them.

He said: “Why have I got to change my lifestyle, which is for good reason, to suit a situation which has not even been explained to me?

“It is so annoying and upsetting, and things just get worse.

“It is letting me down for no good reason that I can see, or have been told about.

“I am pretty angry about this.”