A DORSET mother has said “nothing is being done” to help fix unusable equipment at her disabled son’s assisted living home.

Stephanie King, a Christchurch resident, has been calling for the council to address an ongoing issue with the bath at her son’s property, which has seen him go without a “proper wash” in eight months.

Her son, Matthew, 42, is severely disabled and wheelchair bound. He lives in a property under the Dorset Accessible Homes service, where he relies on round-the-clock carers to assist him with everyday tasks.

Social Services have highlighted a clear need for access to bathing facilities, and so when the bath at the property became unusable due to suspected technical issues, Stephanie was desperate to get it repaired.

Stephanie said: “He hasn’t had a working bath since August 28 last year.

“Having a bath is the only time he’s out of his wheelchair unfortunately, and it’s the only time he can move a little bit.”

Without the bath, carers have had to hand wash Matthew. It is the same situation for a second man at the property, who is also wheelchair bound.

Stephanie added: “Can you imagine trying to change and wash two men on the bed, and to wash their hair. It’s almost impossible.”

Stephanie has been fighting for the bath's repair since it became unusable, recruiting the help of Burton and Winkton Parish Council, and also MP Sir Christopher Chope, who has contacted BCP Council directly.

She said: “Nothing is ever done. I’m fighting, the staff are fighting, management are fighting.

“I think somebody needs to be putting their hand up because this is unacceptable. If you had a nursing home without a bath, it would be shut down.

“This is inhumane and unacceptable.”

The matter was also raised with Mudeford, Stanpit and West Highcliffe councillor Lesley Dedman.

"The moment I heard about this I was shocked and disappointed,” Cllr Dedman said.

“It is a horrible situation. I don’t quite know why it has been left for so long with nothing being done to resolve it.

“Stephanie and her son have really been let down it is a great shame.”

Councillor Dedman said she has written to the relevant council portfolio holder and senior officer.

The Daily Echo contacted BCP Council for a comment, and a spokesperson said: “The council is not able to discuss the details of specific cases. However, we are working to seek solutions and are hopeful of arriving at a resolution very soon.”