THERE are currently "significant challenges" in arranging home support across Bradford due to staffing difficulties.

The problem was brought to the attention of the Telegraph & Argus by Paul Rymer, whose 102-year-old mother-in-law, Dorothy Bailey, was unable to return home from St Luke's Hospital following an operation due to the issue.

While her situation has now been resolved, Lyn Sowray, Deputy Director of the Department of Health and Wellbeing at Bradford Council said: “We are aware that some people are having to wait longer than we would want them to for home support.

"We are experiencing some significant challenges in arranging home support across the Bradford district currently because home support providers are experiencing difficulties in recruiting staff in order to keep up with the demand for support for people.

"We are working closely with providers of home support to improve the current situation.

"The Council managed enablement service which provides short term home support, has over the past few months been unable to move sufficient people who need long term support to home support providers across the district which has reduced our ability to take new people into the service."

She said the Council will look to see how it can support people who need home support to return home and apologised for the delay and distress caused by the situation.