The family of a disabled Bermondsey man living in an unsuitable home that is in a state of disrepair have demanded an inquiry into why he was denied the chance to move into a new accessible flat that would have let him stay close to his support network.
Patrick Scahill, 51, has cerebral palsy, among several other serious medical conditions, and has lived on the Lynton Estate for more than twenty years. A popular man in the local area, he is often seen in the Queen Victoria pub on Southwark Park Road with his sister and mother, who look after him, make him food and wash him and keep him company every day.
Mr Scahill’s conditions have got worse in recent years, meaning he increasingly needs to use a wheelchair to get around. But the doorways of his flat are too narrow for his wheelchair.
Meanwhile the general condition of the flat is poor. The property was flooded by two burst pipes, one in 2016. While the council has carried out some repairs in the intervening years, a visit to the property reveals the work to be shoddy, with damp and mould still climbing the walls. The floor in the hall has buckled, making it uneven and unsafe for Mr Scahill to walk on.
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One time Mr Scahill was left on the floor of his flat for about three hours after he tripped over, unable to call for help, just waiting for his sister Linda to come over and help him up. Using the toilet independently has also become a real struggle, often with undignified consequences for Mr Scahill. Neither can he cook for himself, because the kitchen is not accessible and it would be dangerous.
Incidents like these made it clear that Mr Scahill needed to be moved. But he also needs to be near his family – who are his vital support network. Ms Scahill paid hundreds of pounds for a private occupational therapist – bypassing the council’s months-long waiting list – who confirmed that he needed a wheelchair accessible property near his sister and mother, who fosters children for Southwark Council.
When the new council homes on nearby Welsford Street were built and became available earlier this year, Ms Scahill applied for the development’s accessible house for her brother. The occupational therapist said the plans of the Welsford Street property made it seem suitable for Mr Scahill. The house has a ‘catchment area’ – meaning that a local person should get priority to live in it.
Ms Scahill said that her brother should have been given five out of six priority stars, in line with the occupational therapist’s recommendations, which she believes would have made him a shoo-in for the Welsford Street property.
Instead Mr Scahill was unsuccessful, and may have to move to Walworth or Peckham, miles from his family. He was distraught when he found out, Ms Scahill said. “I always cook for him and he told me when he moved I could come round and he would make me beans on toast,” she said, speaking from Mr Scahill’s living room as he watched football on television.
Ms Scahill said she was told that her brother was the thirteenth most qualified applicant for the property, which she found hard to believe.
“It’s possible that there is someone more in need than Patrick for [the Welsford Street property],” she said. “But we’ve lived here for a long time and we know all the disabled people in the area…
“We want transparency, we want an independent inquiry into how this decision was made. If it turns out that someone else does need it more then fair enough, but we need to know.”
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Councillor Stephanie Cryan, cabinet member for council homes and homelessness, said: “I do understand that it is frustrating to lose out on a bid for a new home, but with such a high demand, and low supply of, adapted street properties it can take time for a bid to be successful – the fair process means that the properties are offered to the family or person in highest need, and this is made publicly available.
“However, we’re always open to a review of our decisions. The family has already issued a complaint and this will go through the council’s formal complaints process to confirm the council’s decision making process. If the family is unsatisfied with the response, they can escalate their complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman.”