Crash victim’s homecoming delay racks up £100k bill
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
ALMOST £100,000 of taxpayers’ money could have been saved if a Lybster family’s request for outdoor disabled access to bring their son home from hospital was granted when it was first asked for.
Kevin Morrice’s family claim the 38-year-old could have been home from Raigmore Hospital in Inverness nine months ago if their application for £3385 to install an outdoor stair lift was not rejected at the first time of asking.
Mr Morrice spent 17 months in hospital after he was severely injured as a result of being a passenger in a two-vehicle collision at Murkle in February 2012.
According to NHS Highland, the average cost of keeping a patient in hospital is £350 a day.
Despite being grateful for all the treatment her son received while he stayed in hospital, with particular praise for staff at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and at Raigmore, in Friday’s John O’Groat Journal Syd Morrice argued had her son been given the grant he was entitled to, he could have been back home at Southend last autumn.
If Highland Council approved the family’s grant application for the stair lift last October, around £94,500 in hospital costs could have been saved.
Mrs Morrice said after their request was originally turned down in October, Highland Council made a U-turn and gave the go-ahead for the grant seven months later.
In response to Friday’s article, a Highland Council spokesman said alternative solutions were looked at for accommodating Mr Morrice including moving the family to a new address in Lybster.
But since the Morrice family own their home, they ruled out the move.
“The protocol for providing disabled access for a wheelchair user is to provide ramped access where possible or look for level-access ground-floor accommodation so maximum independence can be achieved,” he said.
“In November 2012, working with housing officers, a ground-floor property was identified in very close proximity to the family home as being suitable for wheelchair access. However, this was declined by the family.”
The spokesman said due to the Morrice family’s property being on a complex elevated site, solutions for wheelchair access were difficult to achieve.
“Initially, a lift that would take the whole wheelchair was looked at but this was discounted as it was not of suitable construction for the proposed site.
“Ramping to the back door was looked at but, due to the elevated position and the length of ramp needed, this was not a desired option for the family. Ramping at the front door was not technically feasible.
“With extensive rehabilitation, Kevin’s mobility improved so it was possible to look at an external stair lift, which does not take a wheelchair. The lift was installed in June and he returned home in July.”
Thurso councillor Donnie Mackay, who helped to get the case resolved, said the £94,500 cost to the taxpayer reinforced the “ridiculous” situation regarding the nine-month delay.
He claims the situation arose as a result of Caithness being “too far away from Inverness”.
“The high cost to the taxpayer highlights why the family, as well as myself and so many others, were upset at the delay of Kevin’s homecoming,” he said.
“The parents made it clear from an early stage they were willing to have their son home last year if they could have installed the ramp at a cost of £3385.
“I have always said we’re too far from Inverness – Caithness and Sutherland should have their own council authority.
“Former Caithness council convener John Young always said that merging as one Highland Council was a bad idea and I think we’re in a mess as a result.”
The Morrice family welcomed their son home earlier this month and have made adjustments to their property using their own money as well as donations from various fundraising events held in the village.
