A BROKEN lift at an care home in Nantyglo “trapped” some residents in the building for more than a week.

The lift at Llys Nant y Mynydd, on Hospital Road, stopped working on October 30 and was out of service until yesterday, isolating those who are unable to manage the stairs.

The extra care scheme, run by United Welsh Housing Association, opened in July 2011. It has 44 apartments – 17 one-bedroom and 27 twobedroom flats – and mainly caters for people aged 55 and over who have care or housing support needs.

There are 15 apartments on the first floor and 15 on the second floor.

The social landlord said a minority of the building’s tenants had been unable to leave the complex.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said many of the residents living upstairs are in wheelchairs or have walking difficulties and can’t use the three sets of stairs, making them “trapped”.

She said staff had been taking meals up to the residents via the stairs.

Jo Green, from United Welsh, said a specialist part is needed for the lift from Europe. They were told this would take at least three working days to arrive, but this was delayed. It arrived yesterday.

She said some tenants had been able to use the stairlift, but those who could not had been supported to get to the restaurant on the ground floor.

She said Blaenau Gwent Care Services team had also been providing extra cover to deliver hot lunches to those unable to use the stairs or stair lift.

Ms Green said residents and their families were contacted about the problem with the lift and family members had helped their relatives with meals.

She apologised for the delay in fixing the lift.

A spokesman for United Welsh said: “The lift has been tested and is now fully operational.