The plight of a housebound pensioner unable to drive to hospital for treatment of a brain tumour, and that of a severely disabled man who nearly collapsed at a council office, has exposed a network of problems in Lambeth Council’s blue badge system.

The wake-up call came after residents complained of severe delays when renewing their disabled parking permit – which revealed Lambeth only has one occupational therapist (OT) looking at “thousands” of annual renewals.

Department for Health rules to combat blue badge fraud require every person renewing a permit to be screened by an OT, but the most disabled are exempt from assessment.

Despite Lambeth’s parking fraud investigations team successfully prosecuting more than 350 cases of blue badge fraud since March 2006, a lack of resources has led to delays for the borough’s vulnerable residents.

Two weeks ago the Streatham Guardian championed the case of Marianne Powell, 71, who has trouble moving after a double hip and knee replacement and needs the permit to drive to hospital.

She feared a three-month waiting list for the assessment would leave her “a prisoner in her own home”, leading to missed hospital appointments and parking charges.

The council agreed to fast-track her case, but even then only put her on a cancellation list – meaning she could still have waited three months to see the OT.

She said: “The council promised I would be fast-tracked because my case is quiet serious, but what use is three months to me? I have a big brain tumour and I might not be here in three months. “ On Tuesday, the council blamed a communications error and confirmed Mrs Powell will not need an appointment and will receive a badge “in days”.

Melvin Pelling, of Bairderry Road, was ordered in for an assessment despite having spinal stenosis and barely being able to stand or walk.

The 76-year-old said the council did not provide OT home visits or transport to the assessment centre in Hopton House.

The building, located in Streatham High Road, is also on a red route – preventing taxis stopping outside.

Councillor Paul McGlone, cabinet member for finance and resources, said he was looking at both individual cases and the application system.

He said: “We are sorry to hear of Mr Pelling’s experience. We are looking carefully at what we can do to make the process less onerous, if there are changes we can make and also at Hopton House.”

A Lambeth Council spokesman said: “It is true there has been an increase in demand for this service, and we are currently reviewing how best to meet this.

“One of the things we are looking at is whether there needs to be an increase in occupational therapy staffing. The most important thing is residents are able to receive their blue badges without delay.”