A MAN says he feels he is being ‘strung along’ byhis a housing association after apparently waiting he said he has waited five months for a walk-in shower for his disabled partner.

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 diabetic myopathy – said he is “incredibly frustrated” and feels like he and Miss Karakus have been “strung along”.

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

Bron Afon Housing Association say they have had to carry out further assessments and get advice from colleagues in other agencies.

Mr Smith said: “My partner has diabetic 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.

“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.”

Mr Smith also said the weather has had a further impact on his partner.

“Bron Afon has said she can have a sponge bath,” he said. “The hot weather means she (Miss Karakus) is sweating more. “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.

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.”