An investigation found the council had 'failed' in its duty
A council tenant with severe mobility issues had to spend nights away from home after she went a year without a stairlift she needed. Leeds City Council has been told to apologise to the woman, after an independent report criticised them for failing to consider offering her alternative support while she waited for a new stairlift.
The Ombudsman said Mrs X, who suffers from osteoarthritis and osteoperosis – conditions which cause painful joints and weakened bones respectively – had a stairlift installed at her home in October 2020. However, within days she raised several concerns about the appliance and an occupational therapist later confirmed it did not meet her needs.
The stairlift was removed in December of that year after the council approved the request for a new one. But its arrival was severely delayed, partly because of damage to the woman’s staircase, which was blamed on how the first one had been installed. The new stairlift was eventually put in in December 2021 after a further delay, caused by Mrs X staying in hospital for a time. In its conclusions, the Ombudsman said: “There is no evidence the council considered whether Mrs X had a need for care and support when she was without a stairlift for twelve months.
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