A TILBURY dad who is devoting his life to the care of his seriously ill son has called for a show of compassion from Thurrock Council to help him carry the burden of care.

Michael Harker, 27, lives on the eleventh floor of high rise Brisbane House in the town and says it is an entirely unsuitable place for him to be able to care for his son Reece, who suffers from a number of life-inhibiting conditions.

Single parent Mr Harper says life caring for his son, who turns three in March, is almost intolerable and he feels he has been badly let down the Thurrock Council, who have ignored medical opinion that says he should be given another home.

And the council has even chosen to ignore a ruling from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman who, in response to a complaint by Mr Harker, said: "The Ombudsman finds fault with the council for failing to consider all relevant information before it made its decision. We also find fault with the council's complaint handling.

"We have recommended the council apologise and remake its decision."

Mr Harker concedes that he has at time been abrupt and abusive with council officials – which has led to him being warned about his conduct – and that because of a misunderstanding over finances he acknowledges he is on the brink of eviction from the flat because he is in arrears with his rent. Something he found out only last week.

However, he believes the authority's stance against him has shown a lack of duty of care by officers towards his son. A belief he says is vindicated by the Ombudsman's ruling.

Reece is under the frequent care of Great Ormond Street Hospital for his condition, which involves recurrent chest infections, problems with swallowing and general development delays. He has previously suffered, but survived, a bout of meningitis. And he is also registered on the autistic scale.

A consultant respiratory pediatrician at the world-famous children's hospital, Dr Wallis, has told the council that Reece has a range of difficult medical problems and that there are limited medical or surgical interventions that are appropriate.

Dr Wallis adds: "It is important to ensure that he is provided with appropriate housing that is readily accessible and damp free and I hope these matters can be taken into account when reviewing Reece's housing situation."

Mr Harker says not only is the flat high rise flat difficult to access, with parking and other problems as well for the myriad of medical teams that are required to treat him – including on occasion ambulances under blue lights – the flat is in a poor condition and has mould and damp.

The conditions Reece suffers from have also been confirmed to the council by Reece's local doctor, Dr Jagadish from College Health, based in Grays.

He wrote that the flat is not a safe environment for Reece and highlights the 'constant damp and wetness in the flat that is not good for him'

Dr Jagadish also expressed concern over the fact that specialists have advised that Reece should not come into any contact with smoking but says that 'there is constant smoking and weed smell in the flat from the flats above and below.'

And he further highlights the access issues, saying: "Reece suffers from recurrent choking and the paramedics and ambulance have to be called.

As they are on the eleventh floor it is difficult for them to reach the flat quickly so it is not safe when Reece needs immediate care."

When he received the ruling by the Ombudsman last month that he had found for Mr Harker and Reece, Mr Harker thought there would be an end in sight to the problem, and that the council would give weight to the medical priorities around Reece and arrange new accommodation.

However, he says the authority simply refused to change its mind and its medical allocations officer simply went back to its same expert who repeated his original ruling that in his view there was no medical priority.

Dr Andrew Dunfield-Prayero, a medical advisor to the Now Medical Group, says he reviewed his findings and that, despite the Ombudsman's ruling, 'no other materially new medical information has been presented to us'.

Dr Dunfield-Prayero said: "The issue remains the suitability of the current accommodation. This accommodation is self-contained and has all normal facilities.

"It is contended that this accommodation is unsuitable on the basis of it being located on the eleventh floor which may cause delay for paramedics to attend Reece as required.

"However, ambulance and paramedic crews are experienced in accessing all kinds of properties including those located on higher floors."

The response from Now Medical and Dr Dunfield-Prayero confirms that 'he has not reviewed Reece's medical records, nor carried out an examination of the applicant.'

Mr Harker, who was left to take care of his child soon after his birth and he and his partner split because of the pressure brought about by his condition (though they are now back in touch and she is taking interest in his care and condition and that of Mr Harker), says he is astonished by the council's refusal to honour the Ombudsman's judgement.

He told Thurrock Nub News: "Look, I know I am not perfect and I may have shouted at the officers at the council – and I accept I might have made a better job of managing my finances but I thought the rent was coming directly from the Universal Credit Reece and I receive – which was what I was told would happen.

"But should that impact on Reece. What happens to him if they kick us out now, which seems to be their choice of action rather than doing what the Ombudsman said they should.

"I don't understand how their one 'expert' who admits he has not had full site of all the medical evidence or carried out an examination can overrule Great Ormond Street's specialist and Reece's family doctor. And it appears he is an expert of emergency services getting access to difficult locations.

"I am just scared and worried about Reece's future. He is my life but it seems Thurrock Council don't give a damn about him".

Thurrock Nub News contacted Thurrock Council last week and offered to wait several days for a response before publishing this story, accepting that they might require time to compile one, but five days after our deadline we have still heard nothing from them.