Family With Disabled Mother Left Without Heat
Left to right: Alan and Lisa Maddison with Counc. Bill Blenkinsopp and Liam Hannan.
Alan and Lisa Maddison with two children of Gilpin Road were left for 3 weeks with no heating and little food while Durham County Council Social Services did little to help!
Lisa is severely disabled with Huntington’s Disease and she and her two children were left shivering under a blanket in awful cold weather.
Alan was boiling a kettle to get hot water for carers who attend to Lisa’s hygiene and a fight is still ongoing with Social Services to provide a suitable shower in the home. Lisa’s disease affects muscle coordination and she is in cognitive decline. Alan gave up work 8 years ago to look after his wife. He was told by Social Services to phone E-on for help, but they just fobbed him off.
Counc Billy Blenkinsopp was called in by the family to help and he was appalled by the condition in which they were living. He brought in two electric heaters to relieve the family’s misery.
“In my opinion their situation should have been treated as an emergency and work carried out straight away to help the family who were in a desperate situation with no heat or food in the house. I cannot believe Social Services could leave a family to suffer like this – animals are treated better! This is worse than recent reports of how patients in Stafford Hospital were being treated” said Billy.
If Lisa was in a Nursing Home it would cost Social Services at least £1000 a week, but Alan wants to keep the family together. It is hard work for him as his wife needs 24 hour care. Keeping the garden and home tidy and caring for the children is a constant worry.
Billy took control of the situation and at his own expense had a new central heating boiler installed immediately by local plumber and heating engineer Liam Hannan who gave his time, labour and after service free. which was a real act of kndness. He can be contacted on 0779 2286122.
The Town Councillor took a chance there would be more help from the community when he appealed and he was not disappointed. The Rotary Club donated £500 and others have contributed to cover the costs of a new boiler. In addition local charity “Helping Hands” made sure the family was fed.
“I personally think there should be an enquiry as to why Social Services ignored the family’s desperate plight. They should be ashamed of how they have treated this family and to leave them without support is absolutely deplorable ” said Billy.
Social Services Response
Lesley Jeavons, Durham County Council’s head of adult care, said: “We would not comment on anyone’s personal circumstances but would like to reassure residents that we respond to all requests for assistance and provide help and support to residents wherever possible.”.
Counc. Blenkinsopp reaction to this reply was to call it a “cop out”!
“This is hiding behind patient confidentiality which in this case does not apply as we have revealed the names of the clients”. I will take this matter further as it needs serious attention.
Newton News has to agree with Counc Blenkinsopp and have passed this matter to our M.P. Phil Wilson who has promised to make enquiries himself.
