East Riding councillors vote to fast-track MND home adaptations
Councillors have backed a motion
Councillors in East Riding have backed a motion calling for people with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) to have applications for funding and home adaptations sped up. The motion received cross-party support having been unanimously backed by councillors.
The motion called upon the council to “investigate a fast-track process to deliver home adaptations for people with progressive terminal conditions ensuring target timeframes of 55 days for simple adaptions and 130 days for more complex changes.” These targets align with recommendations from the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Steve Gallant, Labour Party councillor for the South West Holderness ward, brought the motion to January’s full council meeting. Cllr Gallant said speeding up home adaptations would be “hugely beneficially for people with MND who could live safely at home for longer, maintaining their health and wellbeing for as long as possible and remaining engaged with their community, family, and friends.
“People living with MND don’t have time to wait. Every day is critical,” Cllr Gallant added.
Conservative councillor Jonathan Owen, of the East Wolds and Coastal ward thanked Cllr Gallant for bringing the motion to the council and stated that making changes to help people with such conditions “is one of the most effective, humane, and economically rational decisions we can make as elected members.” Cllr Owen explained: “There are probably about 27 people in the East Riding, based on the statistical numbers, with MND.”
Cllr Simon Pickering, a Liberal Democrat in the Hessle ward added an amendment to the motion, calling for council officers to report to the cabinet with “clear, costed and deliverable proposals.” Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Pickering said: “I am delighted that councillors have voted unanimously in support of this motion.
“Currently, many residents facing degenerative conditions wait months for essential home modifications. People with limited time or rapidly declining mobility, these delays are facing bureaucratic hurdles which are unacceptable.”
“When someone is diagnosed with a progressive condition, the clock starts ticking. Asking a resident in the East Riding to wait months for a simple grab rail or a ramp isn’t just inefficient; it’s a failure of care. “
“We need to move from a system of ‘crisis management’ to one of ‘early intervention.’ By acting sooner, we keep people safe, independent, and in their own homes for longer.”
“The council has now recognised that 55 days is still too long for minor fixes like grab rails, which should be fast-tracked in a matter of days. This is about human decency.”