‘Nightmare’ delays forces disabled girl to bathe on the floor of her bedroom
FAMILY WAITING FOR COUNCIL TO WORK ON SHOWER
A DISABLED east Hull girl is being bathed on her bedroom floor as her family’s “nightmare” continues due to council delays.
Nine-year-old Anaya Noor was born with Rett syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects brain development - resulting in severe mental and physical disability.
She is in nappies, uses a wheelchair and is unable to walk or talk and needs round-the-clock care, including the use of a shower seat.
On December 1, Hull Live reported that despite Hull City Council spending three months on home improvements before the family moved in at the end of October, dad Martin Dinsmore said that there is still no working hoist in the home or shower for Anaya to use.
Now the family have been given a hoist, but the shower and wet room is still not fit for purpose, with the council saying it will take another three to four weeks for the work to begin.
Anaya’s dad Martin says the failure of the council to swiftly fix the shower is making the family’s life a “nightmare” and that they are having to wash their daughter on her bedroom floor.
“Anaya is still unable to shower as the adaptations haven’t been made and the rest of the family can only shower for a maximum of five minutes in there as it’s not
proper wet room,” he said. “We have to put our clothes we are changing out of down on the floor in the bathroom to soak up the water as well as a load of towels or the place would flood.
“The council promised us in December that we would be fast tracked for the shower fixing and here we are still waiting now.
“We have to lay Anaya down on her bedroom floor on a towel to wash her - it’s not dignified or good at all - she’s nine, she’s in nappies and really needs a proper shower to be clean.
“It means we can’t wash her hair either so are having to use dry shampoo.
“The council has known since July that we were moving into the property and we are still waiting for the shower to be fixed, it’s ridiculous and just a nightmare.”
The ongoing situation has left Mr Dinsmore “annoyed and angry” and he says that he wants the problem fixing as soon as possible as the family have already waited long enough.
Mr Dins- more previously told Hull Live: “Anaya has Rett syndrome, which means she can’t walk or talk and needs constant care, but she can laugh which makes up for it and is a lovely little girl.
“But because of her condition, the house needs to be specially adapted, but we are still waiting for the council to fix issues in the home which mean that we can’t lift her with a hoist or shower her.
“The shower tray that Anaya needs for us to wash in there does not fit, but we are still waiting for the council to sort it, so we’ve been having to wipe her down in the living room to wash her as she can’t get in the shower.
“It just feels like our daughter doesn’t matter. She’s in nappies so needs a proper shower everyday, but instead we are having to use a bowl to wipe her down, which is completely undignified for her and just not on. A spokeswoman for Hull City Council said: “The private housing team received a referral from children’s social care on 26 November and a visit was conducted by a council surveyor on December 4.
“The works were then scheduled and ordered with our partners KWL on December 8. “KWL will be contacting the family to arrange a suitable date to start the works and KWL will endeavour to start the adaptation works within the next three to four weeks.”
The house needs to be specially adapted, but we are still waiting for the council to fix issues
Martin Dinsmore