U-turn sees repairs carried out to Wigan carer's shower

Alex Ozols, of Boyswell House, Scholes, says he had only “ice cold” water from his electric shower for more than a week.

He made several calls to Wigan Council asking for it to be fixed, but claims he was told it could not be done due to the Covid-19 outbreak and he should use his bath instead.

But within hours of his issue being raised with the authority by the Wigan Post, workers came round and fixed it!

The 49-year-old, who works at St George’s Nursing Home, said: “I rang the council several times to ask them to send an electrician to fix the shower and they said no because of coronavirus. They said I should have a bath and that’s more important than a shower. I have a very bad back and work in a nursing home as an assistant. It’s very difficult for me to have a bath. I have a water meter as well and it uses more water. They were refusing to come out and fix it.”

But after the complaint was escalated by the Post, the work was carried out.

A council spokesman said: “Throughout the pandemic teams have been undertaking emergency repairs and any necessary prior inspections based on public health guidance we received and rules relating to social distancing. We have been in dialogue with the resident to ensure there was running hot water in his house and arrangements were made for the shower to be repaired."