A MAN with epilepsy and other additional support needs says he feels abandoned by a disability support service in Ayr since the start of the pandemic.

Pre-Covid, William ‘Billy’ Hendren, from Mossblown, benefited from weekly support via Affinity Trust.

The 26-year-old would meet his support worker twice a week to visit a friend in a local café, go to the pub and even visit the arcades in Craig Tara holiday park.

In March 2020, Billy’s support was halted, with no alternative service put in place. The man claims he has had no correspondence from Affinity Trust for 19 months, and has instead had to rely on his mum and dad, both of whom work, to provide some sort of similar care.

Due to stress and being “cut off” from his usual support systems, Billy’s seizure counts have increased dramatically over the last year and he is now demanding answers as to why his needs have been ignored.

Billy said: “I’ve not heard anything from them about when it will resume. Nineteen months is absolutely ridiculous to wait for word.

“My family had to fight for this. I waited nine years for this service to be put in place.

“My parents are footing the bill and then all of a sudden, because of the pandemic, they decide to postpone support. I understand that people receiving homecare services are higher on the priority list but restrictions have lifted now so I don’t understand why I can’t receive the support again.

“I don’t think it’s fair. Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.”

Mum, Denise says Affinity “has not stepped up to the mark”, adding: “Billy is blind, epileptic and has mobility issues and mental health issues. He can’t go out himself.

“We decided to go privately for it then Covid happened. I kept phoning the Trust but to no avail. We’re slowly coming out of the pandemic so surely there is support available for just four hours a week.

“I’m Billy’s main carer, I do everything for him. He can’t get his own clothes on... we also lost his grandad this year and I care for my mum who’s got early onset dementia.

“I would like a guarantee it will start back up or if they say they can’t do it, at least pass us on to another company. I feel they’re using Covid as an excuse.”

Allie Downie, Divisional Director for Affinity Trust, Scotland, said: “From March 2015 to March 2020, Affinity Trust provided an individual living in Mossblown with social support for two hours every week. This was a privately funded arrangement.

“In March 2020, due to staffing shortages caused by the pandemic, we made the difficult decision to focus our support in Ayrshire on the most vulnerable of the people we support. We then contacted the individual, and the person who was funding his support, to say that we would no longer be able to support him.

“We have advised him to contact his local authority in order to find another organisation that can support him.”