An engineer could be forced into early retirement due to an undiagnosed skin condition which has kept him housebound on antibiotics for nearly three months.

Graham Bonfield was first admitted to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford on July 5 after his lower leg became swollen and he started vomiting.

Doctors treated the 58-year-old for a suspected bacterial infection and he spent three nights under observation and on a drip.

He was then discharged into the care of his GP at the Swanscombe Health Centre – run by the Swanscombe and Bean Partnership – and prescribed a two-week course of antibiotics.

But more than two months on the dad-of-two, who lives in Milton Road, says his condition has failed to improve and continues to mystify medics who have been unable to offer an official diagnosis.

Graham said: "I shed my skin like a snake, it is falling off my leg.

"It is not so much painful now a lot of the redness has gone. But you look at a normal leg and my left foot which is still red and swollen."

He added: "If you put my legs together it is about 1 and a half times the size of the other leg."

Graham, who suffers from high blood pressure and previously had a clot, struggled to secure a face-to-face appointment at his GP surgery.

Instead he claims he was "bombarded" with different antibiotics without being seen, one of which brought on another rash.

Eventually he managed to secure a meeting at another surgery run by the Swanscombe and Bean Partnership and says doctors made a preliminary diagnosis of cellulitis – a painful infection caused by a break or crack in the skin – but are now unsure.

According to the NHS, cellulitis can affect multiple parts of the body including the hands, legs, feet and even your eyes.

Left untreated, the infection can rapidly become life-threatening, spreading to your lymph nodes and bloodstream.

Graham has now been referred for another scan back at the hospital but by the time he is seen it will be three months after he first presented with problems.

In the meantime, the dad-of-two's foot is now so inflammed he is unable to wear footwear and is limited to trips to the toilet and kitchen.

He has also been told to avoid social contact as his immune system may be compromised by being kept on antibiotics for a prolonged period.

Graham, who is a cooling tower engineer and often travels all around the country, has been unable to work for months

And now he fears he may be forced into early retirement due to the specialist nature of his role which requires working at great heights.

"They have told me I can't go to work because I can't get anything on my foot, it is just crazy," the engineer said.

'I would rather have it chopped off than go through all this...'

"I know it can't happen but I said to my wife I would rather have it chopped off than go through all this."

Wife Anita said: "It is disgusting what has happened. His leg is still the same.

"The infection has gone but his leg is still swollen and when he stands on it you can see his veins popping out the side."

Her husband's weakened state has also had an impact on the couple's two children, Michael, 27, and Rebecca, 21.

"My daughter is frightened to go college in case she brings home Covid," said Anita.

"She says 'I don't want to bring Covid home because I don't want my dad to die'".

Being housebound and unable to work has also had an impact on Graham's own mental health. He says the struggle to find a definitive diagnosis has been "soul destroying".

"I sit here sometimes and I think is it worth it. I want to go outside but I can't," he said.

"I look out the window and as I said to my wife I don't want to do it but I can see myself going on anti-depressants."

Graham was booked in for a vascular appointment with Guy's and St Thomas' clinic at Darent Valley last week but this was cancelled at short notice as the specialist was unsure they would be able to diagnose the engineer's problem.

While this is rearranged he now eagerly awaits an MRI scan scheduled to take place on Friday – but it could still be weeks before he gets the results.

He said: "I don't know what is going on or what is not going on.

"I'm just hoping they can tell me what they can do."

The Swanscombe and Bean Partnership says it has been open throughout the pandemic offering both face-to-face appointments and phone consultations, depending on what is most appropriate.

Practice manager Kim Clarkson explained: "There has been an increase in patients contacting us and we are working hard to make sure everyone is offered the treatment and advice they need.

"In just one week, we offered more than 380 face-to-face appointments in the practice and more than one thousand phone consultations.

She added: "We fully sympathise with patients who are waiting for continuing tests or diagnosis and we will be in touch with Mr Bonfield to discuss the next stage of his treatment."

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