A CLYDEBANK resident has been waiting over eight weeks for home carers.

Danii McKellar, 34, suffers from a progressive condition called lymphedema which leads to her body filling up with fluid.

After her grandmother, who she previously lived with, passed away last year, she began to struggle with day-to-day life due to her ill health.

This led to occupational therapy recommending that she receive home care, over two months ago.

The Post previously reported how the Care at Home West Dunbartonshire Provision, who provide services in Clydebank, is facing mounting challenges due to rising employee absence because of increased cases of long-term sickness.

And this resulted in Jacqueline Carson, Interim Integrated Operations Manager at the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), emailing staff informing them they would be limiting the number of new patients they would be taking on back in February.

Danii now has an in-home assessment from social work on Wednesday, April 17, after raising her concerns with the Care Inspectorate. 

However, she is still keen to highlight her experiences with the system.

She said: "There definitely has been [a mental health impact]. Not being able to do stuff for myself and relying on my partner, who does not live with me, to help me has put a strain on my relationship.

"Since the death of my gran my medical condition has got so bad that that I do need help.

"My partner convinced me to speak to occupational therapy to see what they could do, and it was them who said I should get carers in.

"This is the first time I have needed carers as I am only 34, I still have my youth, but I could quite easily be someone who was in their 60s or 70s."

Danii was also left outraged when, before receiving word of an in-home assessment, she was told by social work that the best way to deal with the issue in the short term was to hire private carers.

"This is not even just about me as I am sure there are plenty of people in West Dunbartonshire who are currently missing out on home care," she continued.

"In Scotland, everyone eligible is entitled to free home care, and it is absolutely shocking that I would be asked to pay for private carers.

"I am in a situation where my life is not at risk if I do not have carers but what about people who have severe mobility problems?

"This is putting people's lives at risk."

The HSCP Care at Home service aims to assist vulnerable people, of all ages, to live independently within their own homes wherever possible.

It provides care to adults living with dementia, disabilities, mental health needs and those living with other health needs or who are unable to be independent.

A spokesperson for HSCP said: “West Dunbartonshire HSCP, like others across the country, is experiencing a shortage of critical home care workers and there is an ongoing recruitment campaign to attract new carers to the service.

"This shortage is further compounded by higher than usual sickness absence for this time of year.

"Due to the pressures faced by the service, and for a short, temporary period only, we are prioritising new referrals for residents with complex needs and those requiring palliative care.”