A NEW national centre to deliver the latest technology in prosthetic limbs is fully open in Glasgow.

Men and women are being fitted with the most up to date artificial hands and legs at the WestMARC unit in the Southern General Hospital.

Retired soldier, Geoff Ward from Bearsden, who lost his lower leg when he stepped on a land mine in the Falkland ­Islands in 1982, is one who has benefited from the centre.

Another, supermarket worker, Ian Robbin, has a new hand, which he controls with a mobile phone app to change grips.

Health Secretary Alex Neil visited the centre to see how the service is working.

The Scottish Government has given almost £1million towards the new service and another £4m over the next two years for additional staff.

The new national prosthetics service will operate in Glasgow and Edinburgh and will also allow patients to be assessed remotely via a video link using technology to help their rehabilitation.

Mr Ward, 66, a retired Lieutenant colonel, said the difference now in technology from when he first lost his foot is an amazing leap.

He said: "The help has ­always been there, that hasn't changed but there has been such a leap in technology. Before it was made of plastic and wood and I saw men with metal legs. Now it is all carbon fibre and titanium. It is Formula One technology.

"I am quite active and walk and swim every day and do some sailing and this allows me to still do that."

Mr Robbin, of Giffnock, lost his hand in a waterskiing ­accident 30 years ago.

His new hand is controlled by a phone app which powers different grips, whereas ­before he used a cable which could only open and close his hand.

Now he has various grips and can lift glasses and even tie his shoelaces using the hand, using signals sent for the muscles in his upper arm.

Mr Neil also met 53-year-old Anthony Strickland, who lost a leg in a motorbike ­accident when he was a teenager.

Mr Strickland is using the service to improve his walking and the new 3D gait analysis allows him to walk quicker and whatever his 'good' leg does the other is able to mimic.

The centre will be available for the public and military veterans injured in the course of duty.

Mr Neil said the difference from what the men had in the 1980s to now is "day and night".

He said: "Scotland already has a world-class prosthetics service in place. However, military veterans, who have lost limbs in conflict, have specific and complex needs due to the nature of their injuries. That is why we were determined to set up a state-of-the-art service employing some of the best new technologies."

"I'm extremely proud to be able to visit this new NHS service. It's absolutely right that ex-servicemen and women, who have risked their lives on active duty, are given the very best care available."

A specialist service for veterans was one of the recommendations in a report by Dr Andrew Murrison, A Better Deal For Military Amputees. Ministers said the funding is part of the Scottish Government's commitment to the Armed Forces.

Keith Brown, Minister for Transport and Veterans, said: "We owe a particular debt to those who have served and been injured in the defence of our freedoms.

"Therefore I welcome this new service, which is another example of the on-going work of the Scottish Government to deliver the promises made in our policy document, Our Commitments on meeting the needs of our Armed Forces community in Scotland."

John Colvin, Head of Service for WestMARC, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, said: "The field of prosthesis is continually evolving with newer technology being ­developed all the time.

"This investment has meant that we have been able to purchase state-of-the-art equipment and systems which will ensure we are able to provide specialist support and equipment to those in need."

Staff at the centre will also be able to take up specialist training places to benefit from the latest techniques and technology to give ­patients the best service possible.

stewart.paterson@ eveningtimes.co.uk