Disability Act

[astondog]

Its now 8 weeks since I had a lower right leg amputation and due to the council that was the last time I had a shower (I have to do with a good body wash). I have applied for ramps to get out of the house (I can only get out when the ambulance people take me to the limb centre), I need a stairlift (I go up and down the stairs on my bum) and a walk in shower ( as I cant get into the bath). While I understand that councils will have waiting lists I have been told that they cannot even look at the house until the end of Oct. and then might refuse to do it. I suppose that if there was a fire I could crawl out.
Can anyone tell me where I stand. I may also ask other amputees how they have found their councils and if there's a problem start a website, has anyone got any ideas on this. Cheers

[yesmadam]

Hi astondog, you have every right to all of the above and I feel your frustation!!! all I can post for you is the disability discrimination act and hope, honestly, that you dont have to jump through those hoops. The councils these days seem to be happier paying thousands to a lawyer rather than helping the people that need it :-(

http://www.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople/Rights AndObligations/YourRights/YourRightsArticles/f s/en?CONTENT_ID=4001068&chk=eazXEG

Wishing You All The Very Best xx

[yesmadam]

Me again, from what I have read in the Human Rights Act, it seems the local authority cannot refuse their obligations to protect your health. Still, I guess that would take a lawyer to twist and turn all that. Have a read.

ARTICLE 8
RIGHT TO RESPECT FOR PRIVATE AND FAMILY LIFE
1. Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.

2. There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

I read it as, the public authority has to interfere for your protection of health. My brains scrambled after reading that lot lol!!! xx

[Ethel]

This site was set up by a nice chap called Philip, who is also a fairly recent leg amputee.

http://www.disabled-help.org/

There is a forum so you can contact others in the same situation and hopefully get the advice and support you need.


I wish you well. :)

[saxy_jag]

When you say you have applied, what stage has the application got to?

I used to work for our social services' occupational therapy team (the people who co-ordinate all this stuff). They will have to make an assessment visit before passing on their recommendations, which have to be approved. Cases have to be prioritised because there are just so many of them (we'd get something like 20 or 30 new cases a week). From what you say, your case would be classified as top priority, but even then there is a considerable wait, depending on which council is involved.

Basically, we don't have enough social workers and OTs to cope, and that's because councils will not allocate funding to employ them. One of my previous bosses, one down from director level, told me that there is plenty of money there, but SW's etc. are all told that there isn't. I was applying for some mobility aids for my mother at the time, and the guy basically told me to keep on at her council if nothing happened. Nag them to the back teeth if I had to.

What we did find was that clients who complained to their councillors got dealt with more quickly. Departments jump to it pdq when a councillor complains. Not fair, I know, but it might be worth a try.

My mother is currently waiting for a bathroom adaptation, which should be happening in the next few weeks. It's been around six months since we first contacted SS. The OT had to come and make a full assessment. Once that was approved, she had to have an architect and some sort of buildings adaptations officer to come and draw up plans. Then it had to go to tender. Last week saw the plumber's visit and, like I said, he should be starting work within the next few weeks.

[saxy_jag]

Can I just say, too, that most social workers and OTs really do care very much about their clients. If they could help everyone on their books today, they would. They may not show this when they visit or phone, but some of their outbursts when they get back to the office make their own frustration at the system quite evident.

I've seen a few damned good social workers leave the profession because they felt like they were banging their heads against walls.

[astondog]

Hi saxy_jag
The OT at the hospital has been onto the OT and major adaptions dept. at our local council (Carmarthenshire) both by letter and phone, she phones on a regular basis, I informed the council when I was going into hospital for the amputation and filled in the forms just after it and my consultant has sent 2 letters saying that it could be detrimental to my health going up and down the stairs on my bum. I have also spoken to the OT at the council and it was he that told me that they would not assess the property until the end of Oct.
As it happens I had a fitting for my prosthetic yesterday but I will still need the ramps, stairlift and walk in shower as I have peripheral vascular desiese and diabetes and cannot afford to have any rubbing or sores from the prosthetic as it could result in more major problems. it would also mean me back using the wheelchair.
Thanks for your advice, astondog

[Kim A]

Astondog, when I worked for a housing association and we needed adaptations done for people with disabilities, it always used to take ages to get it through the Councils, because of their 'best value' and planning requirements. However, we also found that if a local Councillor became involved, the process usually speeded up rahter significantly, especially after the disability legislation came in. I'm afraid that it comes down these days to 'he who shouts loudest and makes most fuss, gets quickest assistance'. If it were me, I'd be making as much noise as I could. If you can, get to your local Councillor's 'surgery' session asnd start your complaint there. You should not have to be suffering disadvantage because of council policies. The money and facilities exist to help people like you, with genuine need, you just need to make sure you get what you're entitled to. I don't know if you are an owner occupier or a council tenant - if you're a tenant, you might find your Housing Officer will be able to fight your corner for you. Your OT will be just as frustrated as you by the inactivity - I've seen them myself in tears because they coudn't get help quickly for their clients. I wish you good luck, and a speedy conclusion to this frustrating time xx

[lady_p_gold]

I agree with what has been said above, get straight on the phone to your local Councillor you will find that things might move very quickly. If you mention that you might be thinking of contacting the local press you might also find that 'doors open'. Good luck .

[astondog]

Thank you everyone, I took in all of your advice and have just got off the phone chatting to my local MP who is going to chase things up. I will post any progress on this thread. Cheers astondog

[yesmadam]

sending you a big smile astondog :-) and shall subscribe to your post.... xx

[crete]

im sorry if i am duplicating some of the previous answers but your situation is SHI_ contact social work dept local newspaper your M P ALSO DISIBILITY LIVING your G P community nurse your consultant at the hospital you had your surgery it is a sad fact of life now you get no where unless you shout for what you are entitled to i hope we hear good news from you soon , i am very angry at the position you have been left in sorry for ranting good luck

[Hellion]

Hi Astondog, I used to manage a sheltered housing scheme and regularly came up with the problems you are encountering. The advice you have been given here is excellent and I would also add some of the charities can often help, either financially or with ways around the system, or with temporary assistance and loans of equipment. Try Leonard Cheshire they have loads of experience and were always brilliant with advice http://www.leonard-cheshire.org.
Also you will find there is a local disability group of some sort near you and I have always found the members are excellent at telling you how to 'work the system' in the nicest possible way. And most hospitals have a Red Cross loan 'library' of equipment they too may be able to help.

Good Luck and a big hug from me! x

Good luck

[bednobs]

When you were discharged from hospital they should have sorted you out to be safe at home before you left. I dont know that people have a right to have access to a shower or bath, as i work with elderly people and many of them cant .. if all of them are on the waiting list thats probably why it feels a long waiting list to you (although working in the nhs,october seems like a reasonable wait) You can go up and down the stairs, albeit on your bum, so that wont be seen as a priority. It sounds like you need some aids that an ot could give you. Some areas have mobility services/ot that you can pay to come and assess you

[astondog]

Hi everyone,
Well, I had a fitting for my leg on Tues. and they had me walking on it today, I impressed them that much they let me bring it home and get used to wearing it and walking with the help of two walking sticks. I didn't expect that.
Thanks for all of your good wishes and help. I will continue to let you know what happens when my MP gets some answers cos although I have a prosthetic I will still be relying on my wheelchair, and my bum to get me upstairs.
Catch you all later, take care, astondog

[Kim A]

So pleased for you, astondog! Hope things continue to get better and that you get somewhere with your MP. Keep us posted.

[yesmadam]

:-) with you all the way astondog xx

[astondog]

Hi again,
I had a letter from my MP (real McCoy notepaper and envelope) and she has written to the head of the council adaptions dept. (sraight to the top) and she will keep me informed.
As I said I had my leg and practised last Fri only to take a fall on Sat. (hadn't got the prosthetic on) I stupidly forgot to put the brakes on my wheelchair and went to sit, the chair flew backwards and I landed straight on my stump OWWWW. I did'nt use the prosthetic until yesterday (Thurs.) at the limb centre, but I did manage the steps so I can now, with a little practice get out of the house.
Will keep you all informed, cheers astondog

[Kim A]

Excellent news, astondog!
Well, the bit about the MP's intervention is - not the accident - whoops! Hope you've recovered now. Keep practicing! xx

[astondog]

Guess who had a visit from the head of major adapations last Wed, almost 2 months earlier than they were going to do. It appears that I'm going to get ramps, stairlift and a walk in shower so hopefully things will be done quite quickly.
I'm now walking on my prosthetic, I can manage steps, stairs and slopes and am now only using one stick so it will be the London Marathon next year he he
Will keep you all informed about further progress but if anyone wants to get in touch my email is [email protected]
Cheers