A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER who lives in sheltered accommodation has slammed bosses after they changed the working hours of "life-saving" wardens.

Alice Cook, who lives at Mealhouse Court in Atherton, said she owed her life to a warden who saved her life when she suffered an angina attack.

The warden was staying overnight and managed to save Mrs Cook after she raised the alarm.

But the 89-year-old, pictured left, believes the introduction of fixed hours for wardens who monitor Mealhouse Court will reduce the standard of care which residents receive.

She claimed the changes implemented by Wigan and Leigh Housing bosses had left residents angry and confused.

Former nurse Mrs Cook said: "I went to bed one night and I got the most terrible pain, it was really scary. I pulled the cord and a warden came and talked to me while a rapid response team came and took me to hospital.

"It's only happened to me once but now I think that I will not have the same standard of care as before. I'm really upset about the changes, the system was fine the way it was.

"The wardens who come in are like surrogate daughters to us who would always listen to what was on our minds. Whenever we were in trouble we would pull a cord in our bedroom and there would be a rapid response from wardens who would sort us out.

"But I'm afraid that we won't get such rapid response with these changes."

But WALH bosses have defended the changes and said the introduction of fixed hours for wardens would improve their working conditions.

They also said that they planned to introduce 24 hour warden cover for Mealhouse Court and other sheltered accommodation throughout the Wigan borough to further improve the standard of care.

A spokesman for WALH said: "We are currently reviewing the warden service in sheltered housing with a view to improving the service we provide to residents.

"The main changes will be to introduce fixed hours of work for wardens. At present they have no fixed hours of work and this must be changed to give them better working conditions.

"One of the ways we are looking to do this is by working closely with a private warden provider Eldercare. Wardens from Eldercare currently provide an effective and successful service in half of WALH's sheltered housing schemes.

"WALH is currently undertaking a major consultation exercise with residents about these improvements. All residents have received a letter explaining the proposed improvements and invited to a drop-in session at their sheltered accommodation to find out more."

Any residents who have issues with the changes or want to arrange a meeting with a WALH representative if they cannot a drop-in session should contact the sheltered housing helpline on 01942 827964.