ONLY 132 people in Fife have been able to attend adult day services since the start of the pandemic, Dunfermline MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville has claimed.

A Freedom of Information request obtained by the politician has shown that services in Fife are operating at less than eight per cent of their full capacity.

Although 1,721 places are available across the Kingdom per week, the local authority confirmed that only 132 people had been provided with support since March 2020.

Ms Somerville described the situation as "totally unacceptable" and is now urging Fife Council to act decisively and restore full capacity of local adult day centres and respite services as quickly as possible.

"It is totally unacceptable that people are having to travel outwith Fife to access the support they need, while others are just left stranded," she said.

"Services were understandably unavailable during the pandemic but I'm sure people would have expected a much faster remobilisation effort locally.

"I asked Fife Council about their long-term strategy for adult day service provision and, unfortunately, they were unable to provide me with any assurances.

"These services are a lifeline to individuals with support needs, as well as their unpaid carers and families.

"It is crucial they are re-opened as soon as possible, to help people return to their normal lives."

A Fife Health and Social Care spokesperson commented: “Throughout the pandemic, Fife Community Support Services within the Health and Social Care Partnership has provided support to adults with disabilities who were identified as being in critical need, communicating regularly to ensure they were fully informed.

"Re-mobilising these services has taken longer than hoped due to staffing challenges, however, we are currently providing services approximate to 40 per cent of the pre-pandemic capacity and those services provided by independent and third-sector organisations commissioned by the Partnership are at over 60 per cent.

"Following the easing of restrictions, we have been reconnecting with service-users and families to encourage a process of working together to help co-produce day services in Fife which will help to develop longer-term planning.

"Recruiting people into social care roles is a challenge nationally, and here in Fife, and we continue to progress with a programme of recruitment.”