Dudley Council has agreed to review the Disabled Facilities Grant process following concerns that vulnerable residents, including those with motor neurone disease (MND), are waiting nearly a year for critical home support.
During the full council meeting on April 13, members unanimously supported a Notice of Motion introduced by Councillor Adeela Qayyum, highlighting the urgent need to address delays in providing adaptations to residents' homes. These grants are essential for enabling people with disabilities to live safely and independently.
Currently, applicants in Dudley wait an average of 353 days from their initial contact to the commencement of home modifications. While this is slightly better than the national average of 375 days, it remains unacceptably long—especially for individuals with rapidly progressing terminal illnesses like MND.
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“This motion is about time,” Cllr Qayyum emphasized. “People living with MND simply do not have time to wait. It is a devastating, fast-moving, and terminal disease, with one-third of patients passing away within a year of diagnosis.”
Cllr Qayyum noted expert recommendations state that occupational therapist assessments should occur within 45 days of grant applications, and urgent work should be completed within 130 days for cases such as MND. “This is not a criticism of the council staff but an acknowledgment that the current system is not designed to meet the needs of those facing rapidly advancing terminal conditions,” she added.
MND affects the nerves controlling muscle movement, resulting in loss of mobility, independence, and communication ability. While there is no cure, symptom management and timely home adaptations can significantly improve quality of life.
The motion recognizes that people with terminal illnesses should not have to spend the limited time they have waiting for essential home modifications. Dudley Council acknowledges its moral duty to ensure services are delivered with compassion, responsiveness, and sensitivity to end-of-life needs.