We are prisoners in our own home
Reporter A FURIOUS mum has spoken of her anger over a faulty lift which regularly breaks down and leaves her disabled son trapped in their tower block flat.
Former care worker Barbara Hands claims she has regularly complained to Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) about the state of the lift in Brockwell House in Blakelaw, Newcastle.
The mother-of-two lives on the fifth floor with her 53-year- o l d son, who uses a wheelchair for mobility due to his evolving tetraparesis which causes significant weakness in his limbs.
Barbara’s son needs the lift to leave the tower block, and his mum estimates the lift serving their floor has broken down dozens of times this year alone. The latest breakdown on Thursday night lasted four days, and Barbara believes the repeated breakdowns has left the pair of them as ‘prisoners in their own home.’ Barbara, 79, said: “I can go out but my son can’t. It’s been terrible, it really has been. “We’ve been doing nothing, just sitting in. My son does not go out very often anyway. “All he’d do would be to go out for a bit of shopping or for a look around somewhere, it’s just nice for him to get out of his bed and the flat. “All of the tenants are complaining, it is really deplorable. My son does not mind, but I do. “We should not have to live like this at all. “It is like a death sentence living here for us – we are prisoners in our own home.” The 11-storey tower block has two lifts – one which covers the even floors plus the top floor, and another which stops on the odd-numbered floors.
Barbara’s son moved into the flat earlier this year following a deterioration of his condition, and the 53-year-old has suffered several falls in his time in Brockwell House.
His mum admits it is not an ideal living situation for them, and that recent events have only increased their frustration with the lift. SHE said: “I have had to put up with this for years and years. We are now at the end of our tether.
“The lift is essential – what if we have to call an ambulance to come in the night?
“We have rung an ambulance before when he has fallen, and they’ve had to go away and come back with a special chair to get him down a flight of steps for the other lift.”
Barbara is adamant the lift serving other floors does not suffer from the same regular issues, and has called on YHN to replace the system serving their floor entirely.
She added: “The lift is dangerous – even when it works it shakes so violently and I’m terrified going in there.
“I would like to see the whole thing removed. It is past its sell-by date.
“With all the expense it must be costing to do the repairs, why not just buy a new lift?”
A spokesperson for YHN confirmed the housing association had only received one official complaint about the Brockwell House lifts, but has urged residents to come forward and raise any concerns they may have.
Ian Gallagher, assistant director of operational property services, said: “The lifts in our multi-storey blocks are serviced and maintained on a monthly basis by Kone lift engineers.
“So far this financial year, there have been 22 reported breakdowns of the odd lift, although 13 of these were false call-outs, so only nine were actual breakdowns.
“In the event of a fault, we have a contractual agreement that Kone will respond within four hours, and our records show that this has happened for all of these call-outs.
“We understand how inconvenient it must be for residents when lifts do break down so we ensure that all faults are investigated and repaired as soon as possible.
“We have only received one official complaint about the lifts in Brockwell House but if any of our customers have any specific concerns about their building they can contact us to discuss their concerns.”