Disabled Borehamwood schoolgirl 'cannot be independent' due to broken shower

11:28am Friday 20th November 2009

By Jack Royston

AN outraged mother of a Borehamwood schoolgirl has accused Harrow Council of failing to repair her disabled daughter's specially adapted shower.

Melanie Davis said 14-year-old Danielle Gold, who attends Yavneh College, in Hillside Avenue, lost her independence when the door around the shower space broke two years ago, leaving her unable to use it.

Mrs Davis said: “I'm sick to death of it. The shower is just unusable. We've been trying to get it replaced for two years.

“She cannot be independent because I have to help her in the bath which is a nightmare because she is the size of me.”

Danielle's genetic condition, known as Proteus syndrome, gets worse with age, but over the course of her life Mrs Davis has spent large amounts of money on private health care in an effort to give her independence.

The 35-year-old drug rehabilitation therapist now has to carry Danielle up the stairs of their council-owned flat, in which they pay full rent, and help her wash in their other bathroom.

She says she also has problems with the heating and claims she was initially told both her bathroom and her kitchen would be replaced under a scheme called Decent Homes two years.

She now says she is at the end of her tether and added: “I just feel like my home is falling apart”.

Husband Miles Davis, 40, said: “I shouldn't have to have a phone call from my wife crying because it's just taking more and more and more time.

“I understand there's a process but that situation should have been resolved.”

The family accept they have at times had trouble getting time off work to have builders round but say they had contractors round to survey the work but struggle to get repairs completed.

Mr Davis said: “We've had that shower door surveyed at least five or six times and that is all time off. We can't get time off because we are working. It's just ridiculous.”

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane, responsible for adults and housing, said: "This property already has a shower made suitable for their daughter, with half-height doors.

“We agree that these doors need to be replaced and our minor works department are trying to set up a date to inspect and fit the doors.

“Due to the tenants' working arrangements this has been difficult - but obviously, we hope to set up a mutually convenient time as soon as possible.

“In line with the Government's nationally-set Decent Homes standard, Harrow Council is only able to offer a kitchen or a bathroom upgrade rather than both at the same time.

“The kitchen at this property will fall due for renewal in 2012 but clearly we are happy to look at any specific issues while doing the bathroom work.”