A DISABLED woman who uses a wheelchair has been trapped in her second floor housing association flat because of a broken lift.
Rachael Cuthbertson-Letelier and other residents has been calling Rooftop Housing since she discovered the problem at Harrington Court in Lowesmoor on Monday but has been left disappointed and upset.
In the early hours of this morning (Friday) the mother-of-one's worst nightmare came true when she had to call 999 while experiencing a high temperature and sickness.
Paramedics were forced to carry her down two flights of stairs to an awaiting ambulance where she was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital with a suspected infection.
Rooftop Housing apologised for the repair taking so long and said the lift required a bespoke part.
The spokesman added: "The safety and comfort of our residents is always our highest priority."
But Miss Cuthbertson-Letelier said she feels like nobody has listened to her.
"It's very hurtful to know there isn't any empathy for the fact I'm not able to leave my flat.
"I'm not being heard, it hasn't been fixed and there is no plan b. They're not keeping us updated at all.
"They are okay for me to be left for a week stranded in my flat."
Miss Cuthbertson-Letelier discovered the out of order lift when she arrived home on Monday.
She called Rooftop Housing emergency repair line and during the conversation claims the person said "What do you want me to do about it?" which drew gasps from neighbours who overheard the exchange.
Rooftop said it would be investigating the response.
Three men eventually had to carry the 25-year-old and her wheelchair upstairs but once she got into her flat she realised she was trapped.
"I was in agony and had to take my strongest painkillers.
"I was lucky everyone has helped out because otherwise I would have had to stay down there.
"They are aware of my situation, they know there are other people who are living here with mobility issues, single parents and elderly people.
"I am missing out on picking my daughter up from nursery, I've missed appointments and doctors have had to come out to the house to see me which is wasting the GPs time.
"Im absolutely trapped and I've seen nothing but the same four walls since Monday.
"It's very hard mentally. I feel like I'm not being heard and I haven't chosen to have this condition, I've not chosen to be in a wheelchair."
The Rooftop Housing spokesman said: "We are very sorry that this repair has taken so long.
"We had the first call to report a problem on Monday, and our specialist lift contractor LES went out that evening.
"They diagnosed the issue and ordered a bespoke part.
"The lift was repaired this afternoon (Friday).
"We have had daily contact with LES to ensure the lift would be repaired as soon as possible.
"We received two calls about the lift, one call taken by Rooftop operatives, and the other taken by our out of hours contractor.
"We will be investigating the poor telephone response with both teams and we apologise for that poor service.
"The safety and comfort of our residents is always our highest priority."
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