Wheelchair user 'stuck' in his home for months

Darren Millen has no wheelchair access at his council property

A wheelchair user who says he has been "stuck" inside his council flat for eight months has made a plea to the local authority to install an access ramp.

Darren Millen said he was on a Sheffield City Council waiting list for an adapted property but that he had been told he was "not the top priority", and had to rely on health workers "carrying me over the threshold".

The 58-year-old said being unable to leave his home in Burncross by himself had left him "depressed, upset and angry".

Sheffield City Council said Mr Millen had the "highest award of priority after people awaiting discharge from hospital".

Mr Millen has a rare condition called Hajdu-Cheney syndrome which affects his bones and cartilage.

He said: "There's only 50 people worldwide who have it.

"I have a faulty chromosome to do with bone connection and growth so I get a lot of breakages and dislocations.

"It affects my dexterity so I struggle to grip anything.

"I've had operations on my wrist and foot and my knee has been fractured twice.

"When I came out of hospital in February the occupational therapists said I would need a wheelchair but there's a step by my front door so I can't get out.

"When the ambulance service comes they have to carry me over the threshold in my chair, it's not dignified.

"Without a temporary ramp, I'm just stuck. I'm absolutely depressed, upset and angry."

'I just want to stay here'

Mr Millen also struggles inside the flat as his kitchen is not big enough for him to turn his wheelchair around.

"I have to balance a cup of coffee on my wheelchair arms while I reverse," he said.

"I keep looking behind so I don't bump into things but I keep knocking into the skirting board and the doors are so narrow, I'm banging into them all the time."

He said the council had told him he would need to move to a different property rather than having his flat adapted.

"I've been told I'm not the top priority," he said.

"I've been advised by the council to only bid on bungalows but most weeks there are no properties whatsoever.

"When they do come up, they are allocated not just on mobility but on age as well.

"I'm 58 so if people aged 60 and above are bidding they get priority, even though my needs are probably more.

"There are no accessible properties in my neighbourhood, I would need to move to a part of the city I don't know.

"I just want to stay here with some adaptations."

Douglas Johnson, chair of the Housing Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: "Sheffield City Council works hard to support individuals to have the right home for their needs and recognises there are many unique housing situations that people find themselves in.

"In this case, the resident has the highest award of priority after people awaiting discharge from hospital.

"Even with a high priority, there simply aren't enough properties at our disposal when someone has very significant needs like full wheelchair access inside and outside the home.

"Where offers of housing were made, they were felt not to be suitable enough for the resident's needs.

"Our teams have also investigated whether their current home could be adapted to allow them to remain where they live. Unfortunately, it was found it could not be adapted

"All offers of a new home are subject to checks by Occupational Therapy staff to ensure they are suitable.

"Our team continues to support the resident by searching for suitable available properties, with regular updates and support provided throughout the process."

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North