Unwell 89-year-old woman at Alice Bye Court stretchered down the stairs as lifts broken for more than a week

An 89-year-old woman had to be stretchered down the stairs of her care home as the lifts were broken for more than a week.

The woman, who needed to go to hospital just before Christmas, was taken down the stairs of Alice Bye Court in Thatcham on a stretcher from the first floor.

Her grandson, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Newburytoday that the lifts were broken for around eight days.

He took his 93-year-old granfather to visit her in the hospital every two days and said he had to assist him down the stairs.

His mother, who is 66-years-old and lost the use of her legs last year, was housebound for the entire time.

“It is not fair,” he told Newburytoday.

“They weren’t told anything, there was no communication whatsoever.

“It is not rocket science to send someone there, get a plan out and make them feel safer than being trapped on the first floor.”

He added: “They are paying good money to be there.

“The use of a lift to their house was the pulling point for them moving there.

“There was news that the newspaper had been called and then there were people working overnight one night and the lift got working again.”

Another person – whose father lives in the care home – told Newburytoday the fire brigade came out a few days after the lifts first broke to check on the vulnerable residents.

She said: “Several residents are unable to use the stairs as some are wheelchair dependent or like my father can no longer use the stairs.”

A spokesperson for Housing 21 – which runs Alice Bye Court – confirmed the lifts were out of action following a leak which entered the shaft.

She said: “We isolated the electrics and the fire service did attend as a precautionary measure, which led to them assisting us in pumping water from the area to prepare the site for repair work.

“During the interim period, whilst waiting for the repairs to be completed, we had additional employees on shift to support residents and undertake tasks such as shopping, laundry and collecting prescriptions on their behalf.

“We do apologise for the inconvenience caused and appreciate residents’ understanding whilst we worked to resolve the issue.”

She said the first lift has been repaired and is fully operational.