faulty stairlift resident
Natasha Crocker. Credit: Andover Advertiser

Housing association Vivid Homes has apologised to a disabled woman who has been left without a working stairlift in her home for over two weeks, citing difficulties sourcing the appropriate parts needed for the repair.

Natasha Crocker, of Augusta Park, Andover, lives with cerebellar ataxia with oculomotor apraxia, a condition requiring her to use a stairlift to get up and down the different floors in her home.

However, as reported in the Andover Advertiser, the machine broke down on April 30th and has yet to be repaired, resulting in her having to negotiate the stairs without the mobility aid.

She told the local newspaper: “I’ve been falling up and down the stairs a bit. I can get up them, just about. I have to slide down on my bum otherwise that could be another accident.

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“I’m now living in this property on my own with three young children so it’s not safe at all.”

According to Natasha, she has reported the faulty lift to Vivid Homes and repeatedly called for a repair over the last two weeks, but the organisation has said it has struggled to get hold of the required parts.

Speaking with the Andover Advertiser, Jonathan Cowie, CEO at VIVID, said: “We’d like to apologise to the customer for the obvious and unfortunate inconvenience the delay in repairs to her stairlift.

“The customer reported a fault with her stairlift on April 30 and a specialist contractor visited to carry out a repair within 48 hours. Unfortunately, the nature of the fault and stairlift meant non-standard parts were needed from overseas.

“The customer was updated on Friday, May 10 and Monday, May 13 to confirm progress. The parts are anticipated to arrive and be fitted immediately by the contractor this Friday [17th].”

Disputing the housing association bosses claims, however, Natasha claims no-one has been out to specifically examine the stairlift other than an engineer who visited on a routine check and has been told it may be another week before the repair can be carried out.

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https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/faulty-stairlift.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/faulty-stairlift-150x150.jpgCalvin BarnettHousingNewsroomAndover,faulty,fix,housing association,Natasha Crocker,parts,repair,Stairlift,Vivid homesHousing association Vivid Homes has apologised to a disabled woman who has been left without a working stairlift in her home for over two weeks, citing difficulties sourcing the appropriate parts needed for the repair. Natasha Crocker, of Augusta Park, Andover, lives with cerebellar ataxia with oculomotor apraxia, a condition...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals