An elderly man suffered two leg amputations after medics failed to undertake a complete assessment of his condition

The Health and Disability Commissioner says the two medics didn't remove the man's sock after he phoned for an ambulance to report a painful and numb left leg.

The next day he woke with a blue foot and severe pain and was taken to hospital with restricted blood flow to his lower left leg.

His condition led him to get an amputation below the knee, before a second amputation was later required above the knee.

Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Kevin Allan concluded the paramedic's initial assessment of the man was incomplete and resulted in the decision not to transfer him to hospital.