AN “elderly resident was manhandled down multiple flights of stairs” by ambulance crews because of a broken lift, an MP has revealed. 

Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, has criticised a sheltered accommodation in Rayleigh after failing to resolve issues with their lift that have lasted for months.

King George’s Court, in Eastwood Road, Rayleigh, is a retirement housing complex run by FirstPort.

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In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Mr Francois said “The residents of King George’s Court have been plagued by persistent problems with their lift, which has now been out of operation for several months.

“That has led to not just inconvenience, but safety issues, not least when several weeks ago an elderly resident was taken to hospital by ambulance and had to be manhandled down multiple flights of stairs, as the lift was still out of action.

“I know that for a fact, as one of my councillors, councillor Cheryl Roe, was present and witnessed the event.”

Mr Francois also claims after contacting the company in November, he received an “unsatisfactory reply”.

He added: “The block is run by a management company, FirstPort Property Services, which seems totally deaf to the pleas of the residents.

“I have written previously to Ms Kully Sahdra, the managing director of FirstPort and, on November 27, I received a totally unsatisfactory reply from Mr Gareth Cayford, the company’s ‘Director, Retirement’, informing me that his company was ‘waiting for a part’, an excuse it has apparently been using for months.

“The residents of King George’s Court are still paying their ground rent and have a perfect right to receive a decent service in return.

“I therefore call on FirstPort to stop prevaricating and make sure the requisite part is sourced and installed as soon as possible, before I take this matter up with the Secretary of State in the new year.”

In response to Mr Francois’ comments, a spokesman for FirstPort said: “We are sorry for the difficulties residents have experienced due to the lift breakdown at King George’s Court. Unfortunately, the required lift part is no longer produced, which has resulted in additional delays outside of our control. We understand the urgency and are doing all that we can to get the lift fixed as soon as possible.

“We are aware that a lift being out of action at a retirement development can be challenging and our Development Manager has been providing extra support to those who need it.”