Woman left feeling 'useless' when lift breaks

11 hours ago

Gina MillsonLancashire political reporter

Millie Mulcahy says the lift has never worked properly

Millie Mulcahy An image of Millie Mulcahy, she is a blonde white woman, smiling, she has her hand in front of her face and is wearing two rings. — Millie Mulcahy says the lift has never worked properly

A woman says she is left feeling "lonely" and "just horrible" when a vital lift she uses breaks down.

36-year-old Millie Mulcahy from Bacup, Lancashire uses a wheelchair and needs the lift to get out of her house as her garden is steep and she does not have a ramp.

The lift was installed by Lancashire County Council six years ago and she said it had not worked properly since then, with the longest breakdown of two months over Christmas.

She said this left her stranded in her house and repeated breakdowns meant "my life has to stop" - Lancashire County Council said it was working urgently with the contractor to agree a safe and sustainable solution as quickly as possible.

The MP Andy McNae is calling on the council to replace the lift

An image of the Rossendale and Darwen MP standing next to the lift in Millie Mulcahy's garden. It is a metal lift suitable for a wheelchair and is surrounded by a red brick wall. Andy McNae MP is wearing a navy suit with a white open necked shirt, he is pointing at the lift. There is a lawn behind him with children's toys in the background. — The MP Andy McNae is calling on the council to replace the lift

Mulcahy said the lift had never worked continuously over the six years and it was having a negative impact on her life, including having to stop volunteering with Citizens Advice.

She said: "I had to give that up because I was having to be off because the lift had been breaking down all the time" making her feel "useless".

She added: " I just want the lift replacing and a ramp putting in my garden so I'm free to go out when I want."

Having complained multiple times to Lancashire County Council she has now asked her local MP, Andy McNae, who represents Rossendale and Darwen for help and she says he has already made a difference.

She said: "Just last week, it broke down, I rang them in the morning and by that afternoon they were fixing it, they've never done it that quick before, never."

'Completely unacceptable'

Andy McNae has now been in contact with Lancashire County Council, and is joining her call for the lift to be replaced.

He said: "To not be able to get out of the house for two months it's just completely unacceptable, there seems to be a complete unwillingness to actually address the fundamental issue which is the lift has never properly worked and it just needs replacing."

Councillor Graham Dalton, cabinet member for Adult Social Care, said: "We are sorry for the ongoing distress and disruption Ms Mulcahy has experienced.

"We recognise how essential this equipment is to her independence and wellbeing, and that repeated problems over a prolonged period are deeply upsetting.

"We are working urgently with the contractor and relevant partner organisations to agree a safe and sustainable solution as quickly as possible, and to ensure appropriate support is in place in the meantime.

"Our focus is on resolving this matter promptly and compassionately."

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