'NHS doctors sent me home with antibiotics, now I can only use one of my arms'

A man who rushed to A&E after feeling unwell has told how he was prescribed an antibiotic and sent on his way - only to return to hospital and be placed in a coma before losing use of his arm.

Michael Gwyther, from Swansea, Wales, was sent home with an antibiotic on December 4, 2024, after racing to the A&E at Morriston Hospital. Diabetic Michael said he had sought a male doctor due to the nature of his infection, but, as none were available at his surgery, he was referred to another on the network.

Despite having male GPs, Mr Gwyther claims the alternative surgery failed to give him diabetic tests before sending him home with antibiotics. His condition deteriorated overnight, and a nurse practitioner sent him back to the A&E - where he went into respiratory arrest.

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Speaking to Wales Online, Mr Gwyther said the process "felt a lot more rushed" when he went to the hospital on December 4, adding that a doctor "said it was an infection but it wasn't serious and asked me to come back in a week".

He was rushed back to hospital via taxi after calling 111, with a nurse practitioner saying the situation was "quite serious", and was moved to intensive care at 3am. Mr Gwyther explained: "At about three o'clock in the morning (December 5), I went into respiratory arrest and they moved me to ICU."

After he was moved, Mr Gwyther said he underwent "10 different surgeries" before being placed in an induced coma. When he came around, doctors noticed "there was something wrong with the arm".

He said: "They brought me out of the coma on December 10 but I was still under heavy sedation for like a week after that. So, I started to come 'round, around December 14 and after that they realised there was something wrong with the arm." He claims the injury was not acknowledged by medics, and that he walked into the hospital with the limb working "perfectly fine".

He said: "I walked in with my arm perfectly fine and for the doctor's appointment in the morning I didn't go about my arm. I had no injury to my arm, no illness to my arm, so it was quite a shock when I woke up. I was a bit dazed for a couple of days but when I finally came round, I was broken, because the worst fear anyone can have is losing a limb, isn't it?"

Mr Gwyneth has received no explanation for why his arm stopped working. He suspects something may have gone wrong while he was under heavy sedation, and is now looking for answers after commencing physical therapy at a new ward.

He said: "During my eight days in sedation, I was either left on my side for too long in ICU or I was left doing surgery too long, they can't make their mind up which element it was. But I suffered a brachial plexus injury from compression of the nerves in my right arm and it has permanently paralysed my ability to use my right arm completely."

Swansea Bay University Health Board has launched an investigation into Mr Gwyneth's claims after he was sent home with a letter of candour he claims acknowledges "something serious has happened, but not admitting liability". A serious case review was undertaken in January 2025.

A spokesperson for the board said: "We are very sorry to hear of Mr Gwyther's concerns regarding his care. As this matter is currently being investigated, we are not able to comment any further at this time. However, we will shortly be responding to Mr Gwyther directly with a full update following the completion of our investigation."