A former soldier who lost both his legs to diabetes is one of the 1,500 Watton patients who needs to find another doctors' surgery after being de-registered.

Dave Pendry, 47, from Stow Bedon, near Watton, said he and his family have been 'dropped like we are no-one' after being told to join East Harling practice.

About eight years ago, Type 1 diabetes and a bone infection called osteomyelitis forced the grandfather to have his left leg and bottom half of his right leg removed and replaced with plastic and metal.

Now the condition has left Mr Pendry blind in one eye, partially-sighted in the other and wheelchair-bound.

Changes to Watton Medical Practice's list has meant Mr Pendry's postcode falls out of the new prescribed catchment area, meaning his wife and full-time carer Denise will have to travel an extra five miles to see a GP.

'Why should we be dropped and swept under the carpet, after all we have been through?' he said.

'I am very self-conscious without any legs. You feel very vulnerable and people think you are invisible.'

Mr Pendry joined The Queen's Regiment as a military bandsman aged 16 but was medically discharged two years later after spending several weeks in hospital.

Although he never fought, Mr Pendry said he was prepared to and now feels let-down by the health service.

He said the surgery should have spoken to their patients about the de-registration and he should be able to stay with the doctor he knows.

'This is something we just don't need,' he added. 'It's taken us a long time to feel stable and now this has happened.

'I don't want to go to a new doctors' surgery and see another doctor. They know me and know my history.'

Mrs Pendry, 52, said she is angry and upset about the change and blames the rate of new house-building in and around Watton.

She believes a new surgery in Watton would help solve the current crisis – not being moved to other practices.

'What happens when I can't drive or if something happens to me?' she said.

'It's seven miles to East Harling and that road is terrible in the winter.

'What happened to Dave has been life-changing. We are still grieving and don't deserve this.'