THERE were celebrations in Midsomer Norton when a local councillor helped mark the opening of the Combe Lea OT Assessment Centre with a ribbon cutting.

Visitors at a new occupational therapy assessment centre in Midsomer Norton learned how equipment and adaptations make a difference to promote independence at home.

The centre, in the Combe Lea Community Resource Centre, is the first of its kind in Bath & North East Somerset. The service helps people to live more independently by assessing needs, providing advice, and tailored equipment or home adaptations. There are also plans to run a pilot scheme for wearable pendant alarms and other assistive technology.

Already more people are benefitting from the service, as well as other measures, that have seen waiting times fall from 229 in January to 41 in October this year.

Councillor Alison Born, cabinet member for adult services, said: “The council has invested in this centre and it is already proving to be great support to residents going through illness or injury and for people with a disability. I’m delighted to see that our residents are getting personalised care, equipment and adaptations to improve quality of life and supporting them to live independently.”

For more information, visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/social-care-occupational-therapy-team