THE family of a Powys man who still hasn’t had his broken arm repaired nearly 18 months after breaking it, have started a fundraiser because they are “mortified” at his treatment.

Antony Mead, a former Builth Wells Cricket Club captain who lives in Rhayader, broke his arm in 2016 when he plunged 80 feet down a ravine in an all-terrain vehicle, crashing into a tree, while at work.

It took more than 40 rescuers seven hours to reach him. He had a metal rod inserted and even needed a skin graft, but he broke it again in October 2022 while bending down to pick up a cushion off the floor of his home.

As of May last year Mr Mead had waited seven months for his arm to be fixed, due to several catastrophes, including Cardiff and Vale University Health Board describing his case as “very complex”.

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He is no longer having to sleep on his sofa, but his arm remains untreated.

“It’s beyond a joke now,” said Antony, who had worked as a hydro electrical engineer up until his accident.

“17 months in and still no fix in sight. I’ve been punted from pillar to post sideways but never get anywhere.

“They ‘lost me in the system’ apparently and I must have called them 30 times to be told I’d get a call back or something, but I heard nothing.

“I got in touch with my surgeon who did all my operations and he helped reinstall me into the system, but it’s still uncertain when I will get my arm fixed.

“The family are just trying to help me as they are mortified at the treatment I’ve not received. I really do feel that the NHS in Wales is close to collapsing.”

County Times: It took a team of more than 40 rescuers 7 hours to reach Antony, after he plunged 80 feet down a ravine while driving an Argocat, an all-terrain vehicle. It took a team of more than 40 rescuers 7 hours to reach Antony, after he plunged 80 feet down a ravine while driving an Argocat, an all-terrain vehicle. (Image: Antony Mead)

After an eight-hour wait in A&E following the October 2022 break, Antony was advised to return home as the initial broken arm complicated matters and he could only be seen by a specialist.

The seven months after the 2022 break had involved him spending countless hours on the phone seeking clarity, as well as visiting 4 different hospitals and 8 different clinics.

At one meeting he says he was referred to wrongly as Mr Williams.

When Antony rang up Powys County Council asking for help paying his council tax as he was off work, his local authority sent bailiffs round to collect arrears instead.

His woes have involved being passed between the care of Cardiff and Vale and the Aneurin Bevan University Health Boards, which had involved travelling about 1,200 miles between Rhayader and Cardiff by last May.

County Times: One appointment involved a mix-up where doctors didn’t appear to know who Antony was or anything about his injury, referring to him as Mr Williams. One appointment involved a mix-up where doctors didn’t appear to know who Antony was or anything about his injury, referring to him as Mr Williams. (Image: Antony Mead)

In January, Antony’s family decided contacted the surgeon originally involved, and some progress has mercifully been made.

A date for an operation on his hip is now on the horizon, this May, which will cost £17,000; the funds need to be gathered two weeks before the op.

The family’s fundraiser has so far raised £12,225, but the clock is ticking – and there’s as yet still no sign of when the arm will be repaired.

You can find out more about Antony’s plight and donate to his family’s fundraiser by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/f/fundraiser-to-finally-fix-ant.