‘Acting with disregard for the welfare of elderly residents’
Home’s broken lift repaired to ease fears
FEARS that some residents in a Staffordshire Moorlands housing complex would have spend to
Christmas in their first floor rooms have been allayed after repairs to a broken down lift were carried out.
The lift has been out of action at the Sanctuary Housing site located at Mount Pleasant in Leek. It was feared that the repairs would not be fixed until the New Year leaving many residents stranded.
However when the Post & Times contacted Sanctuary Housing a spokesperson said: “We are sorry for the inconvenience the issue with the lift has caused and understand the residents’ concerns.
“We can confirm that the specialist parts needed to restore the lift arrived with our external contractor late on Monday, December 21 and that the required work on site was immediately arranged for the following morning (yesterday).”
The concerns of residents over the lift at the premises have been reported to county and district councillor, Charlotte Atkins.
Councillor Atkins said: “I am delighted that the lift has now been fixed. But I am deeply concerned that, before I got involved, some residents on the top floor were facing Christmas without friends and relatives as they had no way of getting downstairs.
“Not everyone is able to use the stair lift.
“During the pandemic, I have often visited Mount Pleasant volunteering to help a resident.
“On several occasions, the lift was not working so Sanctuary Housing must have been aware that the lift was unreliable and faulty.
“The lift is a lifeline to elderly residents with mobility issues so I cannot understand why the management has given it such a low priority.
“Before this latest lift breakdown, I was told of a resident who having ordered a hot lunch was upset because she thought that she was unable to have it because she could not get downstairs. Luckily someone took it to her.
“But why is a responsible social housing provider acting with such disregard for the welfare of its elderly residents?
“Several years ago, Sanctuary Housing tried to remove its on-site wardens at both Mount Pleasant and Pickwood Close. I got involved with other councillors and Sanctuary were eventually persuaded to relent.
“The welfare of its residents must always come first.”