VULNERABLE people in Worcestershire are having to wait too long for applications from carers to make decisions on their behalf, figures show.

With some cases taking longer than a year to be dealt with nationally, mental health charity Mind said it is "disgraceful" that anyone should be forced to wait this long for an outcome

Hospitals and care homes must apply to councils for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards to make decisions for anyone thought to lack the mental capacity to do so themselves, such as those with dementia or serious mental health problems.

There is currently a legal maximum time limit of 21 days for applications to be processed.

But NHS Digital data shows Worcestershire County Council completed 3,275 applications in 2020-21, with each one taking 194 days on average.

However, this was down from an average of 213 days the year before.

Only around 10% of the 1,300 standard applications completed last year were processed within the target time.

And one application had taken over six years (2,423 days) to be finalised.

The average time to complete an application across England rose from 142 days in 2019-20, to 148 last year – with one taking over 10 years.

Of the 3,275 applications completed in Worcestershire last year, the largest proportion (38%) were from nursing homes.

And those with applications submitted on their behalf were typically aged 85 and over – at a rate of 7,424 in every 100,000 people in that category.

The Department of Health and Social Care said protections for people who need them will be improved and extended.

A spokeswoman added: “To protect the human rights of people who may lack mental capacity it is important care homes and hospitals continue – until the new safeguards are in place – to make DoLS applications and local authorities consider them.”