AN OLD soldier who served in the Army for almost 40 years wiped away tears as he described how his country had let him down after his bid to have an urgent knee replacement operation abroad was rejected.

Dennis Fleming, from Barnack Close, Trowbridge, is virtually housebound, but West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust has turned down his application to have the pain-saving operation in Germany, where he could be treated immediately.

The former staff sergeant said: "The waiting list here is up to one year but the pain in my knee is getting worse.

"I'm so disgusted I want to send my medals back."

The soldier, who was awarded the Meritorious Service, Long Service and Good Conduct with Bar medals, applied to the trust for an E112 form after a doctor in Germany warned him he needed to have the operation right away.

Mr Fleming said: "I applied to the primary care trust for the E112 form to enable me to have the operation in Germany but the trust turned me down."

The 69-year-old received backing from his GP, Dr Swan at the Bradford Road Medical Centre, Trowbridge who wrote to the Trust recommending his patient for the surgery.

Dr Ian Swan said: "It is understandable he would like to go to Germany for his operation."

At an executive committee meeting, West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust agreed they should not, at this time, support treatment of patients in the European Union.

Sara Hibbard, head of corporate development for the trust said: "There's no extra money available for this service and the trust would be concerned about the standard of post-operative care the patients would receive while abroad."

But other health care trusts have paid for people to travel abroad for treatment.

Jacqueline Whatley, from Mere, applied to the South Wiltshire Primary Care Trust for an E112 form in April and her request was successful.

Earlier this month Mrs Whatley went to Germany for a knee operation and in May she will return for a second.

Mrs Whatley said: "I had no problem getting my E112 form from the trust and the after care I received in Germany was fantastic."