A distraught Harold Hill mother is appealing for Havering Council to install a downstairs toilet and shower at their home to help her 12-year-old daughter who suffers from rheumatic fever.

Paula Priest, 37, of Kingsbridge Road claims the council is failing her daughter Jade, who was diagnosed with the heart disease last July, by not carrying out the work.

Paula is now optimistic her daughter may be able to have an operation as soon as April to repair two valves in her heart; but if the operation goes ahead she says they will need the downstairs facilities urgently.

Paula said the operation will drain Jade of all her energy and leave her very tired for several weeks, so a downstairs shower and toilet will be essential.

"Although she is making steady progress, we are hopeful she may be able to have the operation as soon as April, if not May. But if it goes ahead then we will really need the new toilet and shower to help her as much as possible.

"We are waiting for a response from the council as to when they will do the work. We need it before she has the operation, but it will be a tremendous boost for her now."

A Havering Council spokesman said: "We understand Mrs Priest's concern.

"However, an assessment of her daughter's needs has to be made to decide which, if any, adaptations should be made to her property. Mrs Priest will be contacted by the Occupational Therapists Team to arrange a convenient time for this to be carried out.

"A decision will then be made about the type of adaptation work necessary to assist her daughter."

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