A backlog of house adaptations for elderly and vulnerable people in Dumfries and Galloway needs to be addressed quickly, a councillor has insisted.
Willie Scobie, who represents Stranraer and the Rhins, has been informed of 17 cases where residents who need bathroom adaptations, such as new showers or wet rooms, have been left high and dry.
Despite assessed as requiring these special adaptations at home for their mobility needs, there has been an unexpected delay in the work being carried out.
Speaking at the council’s economy and resources committee on Tuesday, Independent councillor Scobie said that he had received correspondence about residents waiting longer than they should for bathroom adaptations.
He said: “There was just short of 20 outstanding cases and I just wondered if those have been caught up on?
“Are we on top of this?”
Jamie Little, the council’s strategic housing investment team leader, said: “In terms of those specific projects, I’m not familiar with them but I’m happy to pick that up offline.
“There are a number of issues that impact on the delivery of any construction works at the moment as you’ll be aware.
“So, I don’t have the answer to that question right now, but happy to pick that one up offline if that’s helpful?”
Councillor Scobie responded: “Yes it would be helpful, and obviously to help the people who are waiting on these adaptations because they’ve been assessed and require that.
“Happy to pick it up offline Jamie.”
The matter was raised as part of a discussion around the council providing more than £1.1m in funding to the Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board (IJB) for 2023/24.
This cash will be transferred to support the delivery of the Care and Repair, Small Repairs and Home Support, Food Train at Home and Dementia Friendly Design Services in the community.
Councillors agreed to continue with this same level of funding for these vital services to help maintain older and vulnerable people’s ability to live independently at home while ensuring they receive the care and support they require.
A report produced at the meeting shared some examples of the successful work carried out last year.
In the first nine months of 2022/23, the Care and Repair service completed 170 adaptations at homes across Dumfries and Galloway. These included: 116 showers, 24 stairlifts, 14 ramps, six hoists, and 10 other adaptations.
Meanwhile, the small repairs and home support service, known as the HandyVan, carried out a total of 1,637 repair and equipment fitting tasks during the same period.
These jobs included 723 listed as falls prevention, 731 for home security, 164 small repairs, and 19 minor adaptations.
