SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan
It follows shocking figures revealed by Mr Durkan earlier this year that over 600 people had died while waiting for home adaptations.
The MLA for Foyle commented: “I welcome the acknowledgement from both the Communities and Health Ministers on the crisis in Occupational Therapy access and its wider implications including delayed hospital discharges, inaccessible homes and prolonged suffering for thousands of people with disabilities.
“It’s encouraging to see that Ministers have taken my concerns on board, with an Occupational Therapist now appointed as a Housing Adaptation Liaison Officer; jointly funded by both departments.
“It’s also welcome news that proposals for legislative change to address delays in accessing these grants are now progressing.
“Families are being left in limbo for years. I’ve spoken with people sleeping on sofas because they can’t get upstairs, and parents whose children are missing out on life-changing support. These are the lives behind the statistics and delays.
“What they need now is a swift and collaborative approach between the Department for Communities and Department of Health to tackle chronic staff shortages within OT services, fast-track assessments, and to unlock access to the Disabled Facilities Grant.
“Occupational Therapy should be a cornerstone of our health and social care system, not a luxury some are forced to wait years for.
“This isn’t just about clearing waiting lists.
“It’s about taking pressure off the wider health system; preventing bed-blocking, reducing strain and emergency departments, and restoring independence to ensuring people can live safely and remain in their homes.”
