News, sport and entertainment from the Bournemouth Echo and Dorset Echo.

CARER SON IS ORDERED OUT

From the Echo, first published Monday 2nd Aug 2004.

HOUSING officials have ordered a live-in son who cares for his sick mother to leave her Weymouth bungalow.

Donald Hayne has spent the last 12-months caring for his sick mother at her one-bedroom home in Dorset Close.

He said he has been sleeping on the floor to look after mum Barbara, 75, who has come out of hospital following surgery for breast cancer after being ill for some time.

He claims he has been served with an `eviction order' from a Weymouth and Portland Housing officer telling him to leave within three weeks.

Mr Hayne, 56, said: "My mother needs me to cook and clean and wash her.

"Doctors have told her not to lift anything but a cup of water. Sometimes she has a job to get her clothes off - she has totally lost confidence in moving about.

"The housing company has given me until August 23 to move out. It is very upsetting for both of us - we really want to be together."

Bus driver Mr Hayne admitted he had not been paying any rent since being moving out of his previous address after his marriage broke up.

He said: "I am happy to continue staying on the floor or pay rent for a two-bedroom place.

"I think the housing corporation is being a bit unfair - it is going to cost a lot of money to care for her and I can do it for free."

Mr Hayne added: "I drove past a homeless person the other day and thought `that could be me'."

His mother Mrs Hayne, who has lived in Dorset Close for 11 years, said she was very upset about the order.

She said she came out of hospital three weeks ago following cancer treatment and was still very weak.

Mrs Hayne added: "I feel awful about this - I don't want anybody else to look after me except my son."

Dorset Close is one of nine sheltered housing units run by Lynch Lane-based Weymouth and Portland Housing.

The services offered include a 24-hour emergency response system connected to wardens and a control centre.

An `extra-care' scheme is also in place at one of the centres, offering assistance with bathing, laundry and cleaning.

A spokesman for Weymouth and Portland Housing said Mr Hayne would not be able to remain in the house.

He said: "Mr Hayne cannot stay in the sheltered housing unit. It is a one-bedroom flat and we have got concerns with overcrowding and the fact that he is sleeping next to gas fire.

"We are trying to work through a solution with Mrs Hayne and her son, and are trying to get them re-housed in a two bed flat.

"We have also offered Mrs Hayne care support which would provide for her needs but she has refused. Mr Hayne works from 6am until 5pm and that is quite a long time."

The spokesman added: "No-one has served an eviction order on Mr Hayne because he is not a tenant."

He said housing officials will meet on August 19 to review the situation.

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