Assessments can take up to a year

Residents in Stirling are having to wait up to a year to be assessed by an occupational therapist Stirling Council has admitted.

Occupational therapists offer support in a variety of ways and settings, including assessing the needs of people with disabilities in their own homes, in hospital or in a community rehabilitation setting.

They also discuss equipment and adaptation options which can help people live independently.

At a full meeting of the council last Thursday, councillors heard that waiting times for an assessment by the authority’s Adult Social Care Services have varied over the last year – and could be up to 12 months in some cases.

They were said to be dependent upon“assessment of risk”and whether the referral met national eligibility criteria as critical or substantial need.

Adult social care panel convenor Councillor Susan McGill said:“With the recent addition of occupational therapy staff to meet critical need, the average wait is currently between 12 weeks and a year, again dependent on identified risks.

“The service would want to move to a position of the average wait being 12 weeks. Waiting lists are reviewed regularly by each team manager.

“The picture regarding waiting times in Stirling is broadly comparable with other local authorities.

“As part of the ongoing strategic needs analysis and strategic planning, further consideration will be given to the analysis of this issue.”

Tory group leader Councillor Neil Benny, who had raised a question on the issue, asked whether the matter was as a result of resources or policy.

Councillor McGill added:“Sometimes the waits are quite lengthy. This is a needs-led service and sometimes people’s needs increase and they rise to the top of the waiting list and they are seen sooner.

“There’s a recruitment drive on at the moment and we are hoping to recruit another occupational therapist in the next few weeks.”