A MAN who claims he has been forced to wait six months for a walk-in shower for his disabled partner says he feels he is being “strung along” by his housing association.

Steve Smith, of St Dials, Cwmbran, who lives in Bron Afon Housing Association accommodation with his partner Joanne Karakus, said he has been waiting for the shower since December.

The 60-year-old – who is a full-time carer for his partner who has diabetes myopathy– said he is “incredibly frustrated” and feels like he and Miss Karakus have been “strung along”.

Symptoms of diabetes myopathy include a weakness of muscles and limbs and is described as a disease of the muscles.

He said: “My partner has diabetes myopathy which means she has swelling of the legs and knees. At the moment she can basically just walk to the toilet from the bed which isn’t that far away but it’s a massive struggle for her.

“We don’t want to be in this position and Joanne is embarrassed about it all.

“It’s very stressful and she (Miss Karakus) needs this walk-in shower, she can’t use the bath.

“The housing development team seem to be taking the mick with it really. They say they will come to fit it soon but it never happens.

“We have had someone in to measure the bathroom recently but that was it. Nothing has happened since. We are paying our rent to have nothing off them.”

Mr Smith also said the weather has had a further impact on his partner because temperatures have been so high.

“Bron Afon has said she can have a sponge bath,” he said. “The hot weather means she (Miss Karakus) is sweating more. It’s the summer so you sweat a lot.

“We can’t keep waiting anymore. It feels like we live in a world where the authorities just don’t seem to care.”

However, Bron Afon said it is working to meet the needs of the couple but information needs to be gathered before the installation of the shower can go ahead.

Liz Evans, head of community housing, Bron Afon, said: “We have been working with Mr Smith and his partner to make sure we provide the right adaptation to meet their needs.

“We have had to carry out further assessments and get advice from colleagues in other agencies. This is taking more time than we anticipated but once we have all the information we need, our Planned Service Team will carry out the adaptation.”

For more information about Bron Afon Community Housing and the services it offers, call 01633 620 111 or visit bronafon.org.uk