A BROKEN stair-lift at a first-floor disability assessment centre in Southampton has now been declared a fire risk and will not be fixed.

The Daily Echo reported last month how disabled people were being turned away from Oxford House medical centre in College Street because they were unable to climb the steep flight of stairs.

Ironically, disability benefit claimants were being summoned to the first-floor office to prove they were genuine cases.

At the time, the firm which runs the centre on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions said the stair-lift was out of order and would be fixed as soon as possible.

More than four weeks later, there is still an "out of order" sign displayed on the equipment.

Contractors say the stair-lift has been condemned as a fire risk following a health and safety inspection at the premises.

The declaration means that disabled people unable to make it up the stairs will have to wait for a home visit or travel to a medical centre in Portsmouth to be assessed.

A spokeswoman for contractors Atos Origin, who provide the DWP with medical advice and examination for those claiming incapacity and disability benefits, apologised for the situation.

She said: "There has now been a health and safety inspection and the advice is that the stair-lift takes up most of the staircase and is therefore a fire risk.

"However, staff are still using the first-floor rooms.

"Most appointments are made over the telephone so the person is then warned about the situation to minimise inconvenience.

"Any that say they won't be able to manage the stairs are invited to attend another centre or are offered a home visit instead."

The spokeswoman confirmed use of the stair-lift had been suspended for safety reasons but said there were no definite plans for either a replacement facility or to move premises.

Today disabled David Holmes, 51, said: "I think the whole situation is bang out of order.

"It seems to me the assessment procedure is totally wrong; something like this could just put people off claiming what they are legally entitled to, particularly the elderly."

Mr Holmes, of Sholing, Southampton, had found the stair-lift out of action when he accompanied friend Diane Waters to an appointment.

Disability charity Scope has branded the situation "ludicrous" but said the DWP could not be prosecuted under the Disability Discrimination Act as claimants were being offered alternative appointments if necessary.