A former prisoner left in agony by a tight ankle tag has confirmed it has now been removed by a paramedic as he waits for a new one to be fitted.

Carl Lloyd of Warndon Green, Warndon, Worcester was left in agony when his leg swelled up around the electronic tag which he says was too tight.

However, the ankle tag has now been removed after saying he had spent the previous month in excruciating pain.

Worcester News: SORE: The electronic ankle tag before it was removed SORE: The electronic ankle tag before it was removed (Image: Supplied)

The 54-year-old went to A&E at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Monday - but said earlier this week medics refused to cut the tag off and the tagging firm has not been out to see him.

He told the Worcester News he was struggling to walk, blaming a combination of water retention and the tight electronic tag.

His leg was red and swollen while ulcers had begun to return. Mr Lloyd said on Tuesday he had contemplated cutting off the tag himself, even though he feared it would put him in jail.

However, after a six-hour wait, he said emergency doctors would not remove the tag, fitted around six months ago. The dad said he could not sleep and was doing his best to cope with painkillers. 

"I feel like taking a steel saw to my leg. I feel like my leg needs to come off. If I take my leg off, they won't nick me but if I take the tag off they will. It's a nightmare."

The former heroin addict, who maintains he has been clean for 20 years, said the tag was fitted as part of his bail conditions to keep out of Martley.

The tag started causing him pain around a month ago and he claimed nobody from EMS, which installed the device, had been out to adjust it despite him calling their helpline numerous times, he explained on Tuesday.

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"I can't even touch it. If I touch it, it feels like it's burning. My leg feels like it's on fire.

"The hospital didn't want to know. I don't think they wanted to get in trouble," said Mr Lloyd.

Mr Lloyd,  a carer for his 74-year-old bed-bound mum, said he showed doctors the leaflet with the EMS number on it and someone on the phoneline told the doctors it was okay to cut the tag off.

A call handler for EMS said an electronic tag could be removed for medical reasons and the advice was for the patient to go to their GP, A&E or a walk-in centre and 'they are allowed to take the tag off'.

He also said EMS could talk to the doctor or medical professional while the patient was present if they were reluctant to remove it.

"He can't take it off himself," he said.