An amputee has been left high and dry after being unable to have a bath or shower for more than a year.
Tony Love has been confined to a wheelchair since his right leg was amputated above the knee in spring last year.
He says he was left marooned in his former home in Paisley’s Mossvale Square after he left hospital in April 2021.
Now, despite being handed the keys to a new sheltered housing property in the town’s Springbank Road just over four months ago, he is still without adequate facilities and claims Renfrewshire Council has failed to carry out necessary adaptations.
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The 61-year-old told the Express: “When I came out of hospital I lived in Mossvale Square, but I was up 26 stairs. I couldn’t get out of the house there.
“There was a six inch step to get in the house after I had got to the top landing.
“There was only a kitchen and living room available on the ground floor, so I basically slept, ate and did everything in the one room. I slept on a three-seater settee, I bought a Portaloo.”
Tony thought his situation would improve when he accepted the offer of a new home in Springbank Road in March this year, saying: “I thought at least I would be able to get outside and get a bit of air. I’m a really sociable person, I managed pubs for 30 years.”
He claims a failure to carry out adaptations to make the property suitable for him to easily use in his wheelchair has plunged him into further despair.
The 61-year-old said: “The bathroom was supposed to be turned into a wetroom and alterations were to be done to the kitchen.
“The units are too high for a wheelchair user and I can make it to the bathroom sink, but I can’t get the wheelchair in properly because it gets stuck on the shower tray.”
Instead, Tony is being washed by carers at his bathroom sink. He added: “That’s four and a half months now and there hasn’t even been a screw put in.
“They won’t put a cooker in until the kitchen has been redone, so I have a microwave and the units are too high. I’m living on ready meals or tinned stuff and to get a proper meal I have to get a takeaway.
“That’s not ideal to be doing when there’s a cost of living crisis and I’m diabetic, so it’s not what I should be doing.”
He added: “I have not been able to have a proper shower or a bath since I left hospital In April last year.
“There has been sufficient time to adapt this place.
“I was in hospital recently to have an angioplasty at the top of my leg to widen the only artery I have. I’ve not got a shower to wash that wound.
“Mentally, I’m drained by it. I’m 61 not 90, I still have a chance at life.”
A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council offered their apologies to Tony for the delays.
He said: “Our housing staff are in regular contact with Mr Love and apologise for the delays in carrying out the adaptations to his home, which we are working to do as quickly as possible.
“He was assigned the property in March this year and some work took place before he moved in in May, but other adaptations remained outstanding at that point. We have experienced some issues regarding availability of materials and contractors.
“The work to his bathroom is being treated as urgent and is scheduled to take place during week commencing 2 August. Staff are due to visit his home next week to assess what work is needed for his kitchen and this will be carried out as soon as possible after that. Our staff will remain in contact with Mr Love and will support him as best we can in the meantime.”
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