Treliske surgeon finalist for Brave Britons award after amputations

Vascular surgeon Neil Hopper, 44, is spearheading a campaign for NHS amputee clinics to provide better emotional support to patients.

He has reached the last four of the Against All Odds category of the awards, and has been invited to the virtual awards presentation on Tuesday, October 13, when Radio 5 Live breakfast presenter Rachel Burden will host the event, and Falklands War hero Simon Weston will be guest of honour.

Neil said: “Ironically, the speciality I do is amputations. You have an idea of what it’s like to have an amputation but until you’ve actually had it done, it’s completely different.

Neil before having his blades fitted at Dorset Orthopaedic Clinic, Ringwood in February 2019

“I know what frightens patients before they have their surgery now so I can sit down and chat with them.

Neil is campaigning for better mental health support for amputees, as he was unsatisfied with the support he received.

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He said: “It was horrendous being at home. I didn’t realise that amputee care isn’t that brilliant in Britain. I’ve started on a mission to try and improve it.”

Neil had been camping with his family in woodlands near the River Dart in Devon when he and his daughter became unwell.

Neil on his trike with his children, Evie aged 10 and Harry aged 7 in December 2019

He said: “I went to bed early one night, thinking I was under the weather. The next thing I remember is waking up in intensive care.

“I don’t remember it, but my wife had phoned to make sure I was okay and I just talked gibberish down the phone, so she called one of my colleagues and they came round. They found me and called an ambulance.”

Neil at Morgan’s gym, Truro, just 10 days after he got his prosthetic legs

Neil was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, where he was diagnosed with sepsis and after a few weeks, the treatment he was receiving was not working. Neil, who has carried out many amputation operations, realised himself he had to undergo a double leg amputation.

He added: “I was really frightened that I wasn’t going to be able to do my job again because it involves lots of walking around and standing as operations take ages. Lots of people told me to consider changing my career, but I decided to give it a go.”

Neil had prosthetic legs fitted and incredibly returned to work only six months later at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.