A DISABLED woman “dreamed” of being able to use the toilet like a human being again as a council delay forced her to sleep, eat, and wash in her downstairs living room for almost a year.

Slough Borough Council took almost a year to decide on a stairlift application for the woman who has been unable to access her upstairs bedroom and bathroom unaided.

The lady, who is anonymised, relies on care workers for personal care and applied for a disabled facilities grant (DFG) for a stairlift installation in May 2021.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found the council at fault following an investigation where they discovered the council was operating a points-based waiting list for adaptations, which is against statutory guidance.

The report also discovered the waiting list appeared to be an attempt to manage a backlog and circumvent the requirement to assess applications within the six-month time limit.

Michael King from the Ombudsman, who investigated the matter, said the delay directly impacted the woman’s mental wellbeing where she would ‘dream of having a hot bath in privacy and being able to use the toilet like a human being’ given she had to wash and toilet in a room that directly opens onto the street.

Mr King concluded the council should pay £3,550 to the woman for her time pursuing the matter and the distress she experienced in the delay.

It also recommended the council scrap its DFG minor works waiting list process applications in line with statutory timeframes and review its DFG policy and arrangements with local housing associations.

Mr King said: “I’m pleased the council is now minded to accept my report’s recommendation. I hope this will ensure other people in Slough who have need of adaptations to their homes will not be faced with undue delay.”

Slough Borough Council was contacted for comment.