Council to evaluation greater than 200 Freedom Pass rejections after watchdog report
M
ore than 200 purposes without spending a dime journey passes are to be reviewed after a council was reprimanded for turning one down for a person awaiting a hip substitute.
The London Borough of Newham apologised to the person and paid him £400 to compensate for the uncertainty and avoidable frustration induced to him, after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman discovered the best way the council carried out assessments was not in keeping with steering.
The ombudsman additionally concluded that the council didn’t have a particular coverage in place for figuring out purposes for Freedom Passes – the concessionary journey passes for London.
The council’s evaluation course of lacked transparency and officers didn’t think about whether or not it was mandatory to supply the person an unbiased medical evaluation earlier than deciding his software
Under the Transport Act 2000, passengers over 65 are entitled to concessionary journey, in addition to any passenger a council decides is disabled.
The man, who shouldn’t be named within the ombudsman’s report, had his software rejected regardless of together with supporting paperwork from the NHS about his incapacity, and the very fact he was on a ready listing for a hip substitute.
He appealed towards the council’s choice however was once more rejected, after which complained to the ombudsman.
As nicely as saying sorry and compensating him, the council can also be requesting related proof from the person to be able to rethink his software, the ombudsman stated.
Following the ombudsman’s discovering, the council has agreed to supply a brand new coverage in keeping with Department for Transport steering and publish this on its web site.
The council has stated it would additionally evaluation an extra 238 rejected purposes the council refused within the monetary yr 2022-23 in keeping with its new coverage.
Paul Najsarek, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, stated: “We expect councils to follow guidance unless they have a valid reason not to.
“In this case, the council’s assessment process lacked transparency and officers did not consider whether it was necessary to offer the man an independent medical assessment before deciding his application.
“We also found the council did not deal with the man’s application or appeal in a timely fashion.
“I am pleased the council quickly accepted fault in this case, and has agreed to revisit the cases of other people who may have been affected by its lack of proper policy.
“By putting a new policy in place, the council should prevent this situation happening to other people.”
Newham Council stated it “apologises unreservedly” for the way the person’s case was managed and accepted the findings of the ombudsman’s report.
Councillor Neil Wilson, cupboard member for well being and grownup social care, stated: “I am so sorry for the situation that the complainant faced. The Mayor has taken personal interest in this case throughout the LGO investigation and has met with him on a number of occasions to ensure a full and thorough internal review was undertaken and to champion his case with council officers.
“The Council has apologised to the complainant personally and has outlined how we as a Council will improve as a result of his case to ensure that this failure is not repeated for any other resident. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the complainant for his time and determination in tackling this issue.”
Cllr Wilson added there can be “immediate improvements” in how Freedom Pass purposes are managed and additional historic circumstances can be audited to see if others have been wrongly rejected.