A HAMPSHIRE dad has been left in agony and unable to hold his newborn baby after his shoulder has dislocated more than 15 times in seven weeks.

New dad Steven Clayton should be enjoying one of the happiest times of his life but instead he says his life has turned into a living hell with endless trips the hospital to fix his shoulder.

The 28-year-old from Woolston told the Daily Echo that despite assurances from doctors at Southampton General Hospital of surgery, he is still waiting to be admitted, petrified that any minute his shoulder could dislocate again.

Now he and his partner Leanne Langford are demanding the hospital takes immediate action to end his pain for good, instead of manipulating his shoulder back into position and sending him home in a sling.

Steven's left shoulder has been dislocating several times a week since it first dislocated after a fall at work, just days before the birth of his first child, Jack.

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Anything from a cough, sneeze, or trying to stand up can trigger the dislocation, leaving Steven in excruciating pain and in hospital for hours at a time.

He claims he was told by doctors two weeks ago he would need surgery to fix the problem for good but would have to wait for an appointment for an MRI scan to show where the weakness is before he is put on the waiting list for surgery.

Steven, an IT worker, said: "This is ruining my life and totally destroying my first experience of fatherhood. I haven't even be able to hold my son properly, which is devastating.

"The pain is excruciating, it brings me to tears every time. I thought it would get easier each time it happened but it doesn't and I am petrified of it happening again.

"I'm scared to go to sleep, cough or even stand up because it can go at any minute. I fear I may lose my job yet all I want to do is provide for my son and my partner. I have never felt more useless in my life.

"The doctors know what needs to be done yet I am having to go through this hell because I'm being made to wait for appointments. I know it isn't life threatening but my life is on hold.

"I feel awful because I feel I am abusing the ambulance service but I have no choice, I have to get to hospital when it happens."

His partner Leanne, 26, a dental nurse, added: "This is meant to be the happiest time of our lives, enjoying time with our first baby but instead it has been a nightmare.

"Something needs to be done because he cannot keep going on like this."

A spokesperson from Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Southampton General, said: "We're sorry to hear that Mr Clayton is unhappy with the care he has received and we would like the opportunity to discuss this with him directly."