Army wife's health fears

Richard Cutcher • Published 27 Jan 2012 12:15 0 Comments

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MOD begins £950k homes improvement

AN ARMY wife has hit out at what she claims is sub-standard service accommodation and is dismayed to see families still living there.

Kimberley Baleiwai and her family were twice moved from properties in Cavalry Crescent, Windsor, due to health and safety reasons after hospital staff sent separate requests to the Ministry of Defence.

Three years on Mrs Baleiwai, whose young children suffered persistent health problems, is shocked the MOD is still housing families in the properties, which contained excessive amounts of damp and mould, as well problems with heating and leaking radiators.

Mrs Baleiwai, whose husband Lance Corporal Isimeli Baleiwai has served in the army for 12 years, said: "My biggest concern is that there will be a cot death. Why are they still housing families there if they know they are unsafe?"

The Baleiwais moved into 36 Cavalry Crescent in July 2008 but by February 2009 had been moved out. A letter from an NHS nurse at Wexham Park Hospital in March 2009, referring to daughter Lilly, aged three at the time, states: "Over my years as a community children's nurse and respiratory nurse specialist I have frequently been asked to help with re-housing but I have never been asked about such an appalling case."

From March 2009 to August 2010 the family lived at 24 Cavalry Crescent. In August 2010 a paediatric doctor from Heatherwood Hospital outlined the need for the family to be moved out.

Mrs Baleiwai added: "Army families need really basic housing but what they don't need is houses that will make their children ill. We deserve better."

LCpl Baleiwai has served on five tours including Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, but will leave the Household Cavalry in March because of the effect the housing ordeal has had on his family.

A spokesman for the MOD said: "The MOD has begun £950,000 of general improvements and energy efficiency to 53 service family accommodation properties in Windsor. In addition, we will be addressing damp problems at six homes in the area.

"The MOD takes the safety of all occupants very seriously and any identified health and safety issues are dealt with as a matter of utmost priority."

This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 27 Jan 12

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