Two months after having a leg amputated, a Stanford-le-Hope man has been told he could have to wait until February before a ramp is installed at his home.

In the meantime, 72-year-old John Fawsitt is stuck in his Hudson Close home, relying on ambulance crews to lift and ferry him and his wheelchair in and out of the house.

Thurrock Council's social services department, which is responsible for improving access for the disabled, say Mr Fawsitt is a high priority but demands on their service are causing the delay.

However, in the past two weeks Mr Fawsitt has had ambulance staff fall on him in the process of getting him out of the house, and had to pay for a home visit from a chiropodist because he could not get to the hospital.

Mr Fawsitt said: "This is a dangerous and very frustrating situation.

"I can't visit my wife's grave, or go for a drink, and although I'm retired I'm quite active in myself and sitting indoors is just soul-destroying.

"Social services could have fitted the ramp a long time ago when I was in hospital, and I've been home for the last two months.

"I don't want people to feel sorry for me, I just want something done about it."

A spokeswoman for Thurrock Council said Mr Fawsitt was near the top of the waiting list, and would be seen as soon as possible.

She said: "We were first made aware of this in October, but an assessment needs to be carried out before any work is done.

"Mr Fawsitt's is a high priority case but there is a time delay because of a high demand.

"He will be visited early in the new year when a comprehensive assessment, looking not only at access but mobility around his home, will be carried out."

Frustrated - John Fawsitt must wait until February for a ramp

Picture: DAVID HENDERSON

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.