§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average length of time taken was to carry out home adaptations after a recommendation by an occupational therapist in the last year for which figures are available. [125838]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Northern Ireland Housing Executive measures the time taken from receipt of an Occupational Therapist (OT) recommendation to the commencement of works against agreed standards. Each adaptation is tailored to the specific needs of the individual person concerned. The length of time taken by a contractor to then complete a job is variable and can range from a few days, to a few months for extensions.
From the receipt of OT recommendation to work starting, in the Public Sector, figures for the year 2002–03 are as follows:
Lifts (93 per cent. within 22 weeks)
While precise figures are not readily available against intermediate timescales it is considered that the bulk of cases are in fact started within 12 weeks.
Extensions
- 13 per cent. started within 30 weeks
- 48 per cent. started within 46 weeks
- 68 per cent. started within 60 weeks
This type of work requires building control and planning approval.
The Housing Executive is continuing to implement the recommendations of the Joint Fundamental review the aim of which was to improve all aspects of the adaptations service including the reduction of times. 466W Specific actions include moving to a new system of contracting with a single tender covering multiple adaptations, which will allow a greater percentage of adaptations to be carried out within 60 weeks and agreement has been reached with Planning and Building control to streamline applications in respect of adaptations. The Housing Executive will keep the timescales under review and implement further improvements where possible.
Where small scale works such as change of heating systems, handrails and lowering cooker mains switches etc. are required the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is able to undertake this work without referral to an OT.
In the private sector adaptations are through Disabled Facility Grants and in 2002–2003, the average time taken between the receipt of, and completion of work following, an OT recommendation was 2 years.
Much of this period is outside the control of the Housing Executive and includes the time—
- i. taken by the applicant to complete his/her formal application, including getting building control and planning approval, to enable the Housing Executive to approve a grant (the applicant is normally allowed 6 months at this stage);
- ii. post approval, when it is up to the applicant to engage a contractor to undertake and complete the works (for which up to a further 12 months is normally allowed).
With the introduction of the new legislation, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive will have the power to agree with the Occupational Therapy Service a range of smallscale works that it can carry out without having to consult the OT service. This will be in line with the works it undertakes for its own tenants.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what efforts are being made to reduce the waiting lists for assessments by occupational therapists in respect of disabled housing adaptations in(a) the Down Lisburn Trust, (b) the Banbridge Craigavon Trust and (c) the Newry and Mourne Trust: and if he will make a statement. [126051]
§ Angela SmithDown Lisburn HSS Trust has already recruited additional staff but is seeking further staff to reduce waiting lists. Interviews are scheduled for 24 July. A pilot scheme whereby an occupational therapist is locally based to ensure an earlier assessment is being evaluated and will be rolled out in the trust this year.
Craigavon and Banbridge HSS Trust has set up two clinics at Lurgan Hospital and Copperfields (Banbridge). Evening assessments have also been introduced to ensure reduced waiting times.
Newry and Mourne HSS Trust has recruited two additional occupational therapists to commence employment on 16 July to address the waiting lists.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are waiting for assessments by occupational therapists in respect of disabled housing adaptations in each of the health and social services trusts in Northern Ireland. [126053]
467W
§ Angela SmithInformation is not available on the number of persons awaiting occupational therapy assessment in respect of disabled housing adaptations, as an assessment for housing adaptation can only be designated as such when the assessment is completed. The total number of persons in each health and social services trust awaiting assessment by a community occupational therapist is shown in the table in respect of the position at 31 March 2003, the latest date for which such information is available.
Persons awaiting assessment by community occupational therapists, by trust, 31 March 2003
Trust Persons awaiting assessment Down Lisburn 1,031 North and West Belfast 1,086 South and East Belfast 205 Ulster 362 Causeway 670 Homefirst 1,698 Armagh and Dungannon 277 Craigavon and Banbridge 627 Newry and Mourne 200 Foyle 764 Sperrin Lakeland 1,182 Northern Ireland Total 8,102