A chronically-ill pensioner has been forced to sleep on her sofa for five months while waiting for essential adaptations to her home.

Joan Stead, 75, has been waiting for two years to have the house she shares with husband Arthur, 72, fitted with a stair-lift and sunken shower.

But in the intervening period she has developed both Alzheimer's and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, worsening her health, and her despairing husband says he feels Bradford's Social Services are simply waiting for her to die.

Mrs Stead's needs were assessed by Bradford Council when she returned home following major surgery two years ago.

The authority put the couple, who live in Dudley Hill, Bradford, on a waiting list for a stair-lift and a sunken shower.

Mr Stead said: "I saw somebody at the Usher Street council office about a fortnight ago and I said to them: If you could just see her there laid on the couch, it's painful to watch.' "He told me that would mean a re-assessment and we would go back to the bottom of the heap.

"I'm just getting nowhere fast. What I'm thinking is that they hope she will die before they get around to it and it will spare them some money."

Peter Kay, head of Bradford Council's Adult Services said: "I can confirm there is a two-year waiting list. This is from the start of the application going in to the conclusion of the work."

But after being contacted by the T&A he assured Mr Stead that, despite what he had been told, he would not be bumped down to the bottom of the list if further assessment was required.

He said: "I apologise if there has been a misunderstanding.

"There is no delay to the work required by Mr and Mrs Stead to install a stair-lift and level access shower. Mr Stead just needs to confirm he is happy for it to go ahead by returning an acceptance slip.

"As soon as he does this we can arrange for our contractors to start the work. If he doesn't want the Council to arrange the work he has a number of options, including finding his own contractor or going privately and paying the total cost for the work himself."

Mr Stead said money was also an issue - because the Council has asked him to pay £6,300 to have the work done.

Mr Stead said he worked all of his life as a lorry and bus driver to make sure he and his wife would have a comfortable retirement.

He said he had considered employing private contractors to undertake the work when he found out a stair-lift could be bought and installed instantly for £4,500.

He said: "Is this the way to treat a man who has worked hard all of his life - when he needs a bit of help he's got to pay for it?"

Mr Kay added: "The £6,000 he has been asked to pay is a contribution to the total cost of the work. This would have been calculated after a standard national means test to assess the Steads' eligibility for a disabled facilities grant."

Mr Stead said trying to discuss his wife's case and his own concerns had proved near impossible at times because he felt nobody would accept responsibility when he called Social Services.

"They always said I had the wrong department and gave me another number. Eventually I was given the number that I had originally called, and they still said I had the wrong department.

"I think we have been tied up in red tape," he said.

Councillor Rupert Oliver (Lab, Bowling and Barkerend) said: "I agree with Mr Stead. Given the circumstances the Council needs to pay more regard to his concerns.

"I'm under discussion with the relevant Council officers and departments about the situation and I would be looking for Mr and Mrs Stead's concerns to be discussed.

"I have some broader concerns in regards to the allocation for people with disabilities. I think the Council needs to be more aware of its responsibilities in light of recent legislation."

In August, when the T&A reported a similar case, the council said that a review of the service was to be carried out. It is understood this review is still being planned.

e-mail:rebecca.wright @bradford.newsquest.co.uk