Housing policy leaves Saltcoats man 'like trapped animal' in home

Patricia Wilson lives with her husband Colin in an upstairs flat in Wellpark Road in Saltcoats.

Around five years ago, Colin began suffering with arthritis. 

With the couple's toilet facilities, and route out of their home, being down a flight of 16 steep stairs this meant it was near impossible for Colin to manoeuvre to either of these locations.

The situation worsened around two years ago when Colin was diagnosed with dementia.

Patricia told the Herald that because of Colin's reduced mobility, he is unable to leave the living area of their home.

In addition to not being able to get out of the house, Patricia said, her husband hasn't had a bath or shower for a year and a half.

Patricia says she has been lobbying North Ayrshire Council for a housing move ever since he was first affected by arthritis - so far without success.

She told the Herald that the couple have been informed their housing points total isn't enough for a move - and have been told there are others on the waiting list "worse off" than them.

Patricia said: “When they said there were people worse off than Colin, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“It’s 16 steep stairs. Even the home helps and carer all complain about them. One of the doctors slipped at the bottom of them.

"I’m coming up on 70 – I’m barely fit for the stairs.

“It’s not fair the way Colin is being treated. He’s got no life at all. I can’t even get him down the stairs to get him in a wheelchair and out.

“He has no quality of life. He’s like a trapped animal. 

“They have just backed me into a corner now, and I’m not having it.”

Colin previously worked as a manager with the Citizens' Advice service - and Patricia spoke of her increasing frustration that someone who was employed to help people in need wasn't getting the help he needed from others.

“It’s not right for a man that helped everybody," she added. 

“I feel now we are looking for help it’s just not happening.

“It’s not human. It’s not right. It’s ridiculous.

“Colin was an outdoor person. He walked everywhere. He’s got no communication with other people because he can’t get out.

“I know his dementia will get worse, but he deserves a shower.”

The couple's increasingly desperate situation has prompted Patricia to plead for a "common sense" approach to North Ayrshire Council's housing allocation policy.

She says she's been told Colin has a care plan - but insists that plan is "not helping him to get out".

She added: “There’s houses sitting empty. Why are they not allocating them?

"The housing set-up needs a reshuffle which uses common sense.”

Councillor Jean McClung, who represents the Saltcoats and Stevenston ward for the SNP, has been helping the couple with their housing applications and admits their situation is "hard to accept".

She told the Herald: “The situation Mr and Mrs Wilson are in is nothing short of heart-breaking.

"I have visited them several times in their current home and my heart goes out to them.

"It is obvious that their present living conditions are totally unsuitable for their needs.

"I know from my own experience of looking after an elderly relative that the stimulus of being outdoors, with the concomitant contact with others, is vital to the wellbeing of a person in Mr Wilson’s situation.

"At the moment It is not possible for Mr Wilson to leave the house.

"Also, to expect anyone in this day and age to be without proper bathing and toilet facilities for a year and a half is, I believe, hard to accept.

"I am full of admiration for the way in which Mrs Wilson has been coping with the situation she and her husband face.

"But there is nothing I want more than to see a transformation to their lives through suitable rehousing."

Cllr McClung added that while she accepts there are rules in place, changes should be considered to suit such unique circumstances.

She continued: "I do understand that 'rules are rules', and I have nothing but respect for those in the housing department who have the difficult task of applying these rules to the extremely demanding and unenviable task they carry out on a daily basis.

"However, since joining the council I have felt, and have openly stated, that it is my belief that 'people are not points' - the 'points system' being the basis for allocating houses.

"I have a number of constituents who have come to me seeking suitable accommodation, some of whom may have an identical number of 'points' but whose needs and circumstances are totally different.

"In my view each person is an individual with a unique set of needs.

"I am pleased, however, that the council’s current allocations system is under review, and following a meeting of the policy advisory panel, which I attended last week, I am hopeful that the system will be adapted for the benefit of all.

"All this will, of course, will take time, and in the meantime it distresses me to see Mr and Mrs Wilson continue to face the horrible situation they are in.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson added: “We generally don’t comment on individual circumstances but we do of course sympathise with Mr and Mrs Wilson’s situation and can confirm that relevant Council officers are in regular contact with them to provide support.”