Couple: 'Our son could die without his own bedroom' (From Watford Observer)

Couple: 'Our son could die without his own bedroom'

10:10am Thursday 2nd July 2009 in

By John Harrison »

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A concerned couple whose son has a life-limiting illness say his life will be constantly put in danger unless the council rehomes them.

Dougie Davis, 30, and his partner Alix, have two children, Oscar, one, and three-year-old Bella. Oscar suffers from cystic fibrosis, a life-limiting disease that affects his internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system.

Currently, the family lives in a second floor flat in Croxley View where Oscar shares a bedroom with his younger sister. However, his worried parents say he is picking up bugs and illnesses from his sibling, which, coupled with his illness, is putting his life in danger.

The family has applied to Watford Borough Council to be moved to a three-bedroom house so Oscar can have his own room.

They have even won the backing of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, but have so far had their pleas turned down by council officers.

The council has sent a medical examiner to see Oscar. However, the expert concluded the toddler could just as easily pick up an infection while outside.

Dougie said: "We feel the council thinks they know better about a disease only a specialist can understand.

“If Oscar needs medication I can't go to the GP to get that, I have to go to the specialist at the hospital.

“So, I don't know how the council's examiner can make that call."

The family has been told they do qualify for a ground floor two-bedroom flat with a garden. However, Dougie says that is not enough.

He added: "It is simply the best thing for Oscar to have his own bedroom in our eyes.

"We don't know what to do anymore. We think the council is wrong.”

Mayor of Watford, Dorothy Thornhill said the case highlighted a ”tragedy” - that there is not enough housing to meet every demand in the town.

She said: “I know that housing is a key issue for local people. It's a tragedy that there is not enough affordable housing in the south-east of the country.

“Of course this family wants the best for their children, however, the facts are that there is a short supply of housing in towns like Watford.

“We have 3500 applicants on the housing list, so what we do is prioritise applicants with the highest housing need, and that is what we have done in this particular case.”

She added: “Unfortunately, over many years housing has been under-resourced nationwide, and the supply driven by the planning system, because of high house prices."

Comments(29)

HertsPeter says...
10:20am Thu 2 Jul 09

The need to have his own bedroom is desirable but hardly necessary - the children will eat, bathe, socialise, play in the same areas, so bugs will be picked up there, from the parents, at school, outdoors etc. etc.

Also... Dorothy Thornhill overlooks the main reason for the social housing shortage - the selling off of all the stock in the 1980's without replacemnent housing being built. All the best houses were sold with none of the proceeds reinvested, and what was left was the houses that only the desperate want. Another legacy of the AntiChrist Thatcher.