‘We want the time mum’s got left to be comfortable’
THE family of an elderly gran with lung cancer have hit out over delays to repairing the heating in her flat.
Relatives of Margaret Davies, 82, claim they were told that the disruption to the supply to the other 34 flats in the block was not worth it.
Halton Housing has been paying towards the cost of heaters, but Margaret’s daughter Lynn Cowsill says the ‘dry heat’ is not good for her mum’s chest and the heaters present a fire hazard.
Lynn, 57, said: “Halton Housing is going to pay for the heating.
“I’m not bothered about money.
“We want the time mum’s got left alive to be comfortable – throwing money at it isn’t going to do any good if she passes away, if her COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) flares up and we lose her.
“Halton Housing are going to give ‘compensation’ for using extra electricity, but it’s not going to make her more comfortable.”
Lynn said the problems had been going on since work was carried out before Christmas, and they are understood to be down to the boilers at Brunswick House, Water Street, Runcorn, where Margaret lives.
Margaret is now facing the last months of her life and her daughter and son want her to live in comfort.
Lynn added: “Now she’s got lung cancer.
“They [doctors] offered her treatment and she turned it down. She said ‘use the money on the youngsters’. She will support everyone else.”
Lynn added that she feels her mum’s heating situation is ‘disgusting in this day and age’.
Halton Housing said it was working to resolve the situation.
A Halton Housing spokeswoman said: “Ensuring our customers’ safety and wellbeing is our top priority.
“While we are unable to comment on the specifics of individual cases, we are working with the customer and their family to resolve this situation and will do everything we can to minimise any distress caused.”