7 December 2021 Campaigns
Last week Senedd Members from across the political spectrum voted overwhelmingly in support of introducing a fast-track and non-means tested process for those with MND in Wales.
Our Welsh Homes for MND campaign has been calling for an end to the current excessively long waiting times those with MND face when applying for housing adaptations. Last week, the campaign reached the Welsh Parliament.
MND Champion, Peter Fox MS, introduced the Motion and welcomed the Welsh Government's intention to eradicate financial assessments for small and medium sized adaptations but noted that this was not being enacted on the ground by all local authorities in Wales.
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS spoke at the debate and emphasised that people with MND have the right to live independently and with dignity. He also brought attention to the Adapt Now report which highlighted several failings in Wales and explained that the current system was not fit for purpose. This is because the current system lacks financial equity, creates inconsistent provision across Wales and, crucially, adaptations take far too long for people with rapidly progressing diseases such as MND.
Laura Anne Jones MS noted that the Equality and Human Rights Commission outlined that only 1 out of 22 local authorities in Wales had set targets for accessible housing.
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan MS, said that they had “comprehensive” housing adaptations programme in Wales and the annual spend was £60m. She noted that an additional £1m would be given to local authorities to avoid using means testing for medium adaptations. She said that adopting policies took time, but she expected that the “vast majority if not all local authorities” to have adopted the no means test by April 2022.
We will continue to push to ensure that a fast-track process is introduced in councils for people with MND so that everybody with MND in Wales is able to live in safe and accessible homes.
During the debate MSs came together to speak about their own experiences of MND.
After the debate Peter Fox MS said
“It’s shameful that people living with MND across Wales were becoming trapped in inaccessible homes because the process was too slow and prevented them from gaining the necessary support in time. Thankfully, we’ve come a step closer to bringing this complex and unfair system to an end.”
Thank you to all the Senedd Members who participated in the debate that led to this historic vote.