Health chief hails progress

Argyll and Bute’s health chief has hailed the progress made by the organisation during her first year in the post.

Joanna MacDonald, chief officer of the area’s health and social care partnership (HSCP), was addressing a meeting of its integration joint board (IJB) on Wednesday November 27.

The challenges which remain for the IJB were acknowledged by Ms MacDonald, including an overspend on social work services exceeding £3 million, but measures have been implemented for better financial control in recent months, and the work on that and other matters was highlighted.

Ms MacDonald, who was appointed in October 2018, said: ‘I was fully aware of the challenges with recruitment and services across the area – that was one of the things that attracted me into this role.

Key roles

‘One of the key roles we have been missing was a head of finance and transformation, so I am delighted to have Judy [Orr] permanently in post.

‘There has been concern about the financial position and the out-turn, particularly on social work, which has a £3.142 million overspend, which is particularly poor.

‘Bring it forward seven months, and we now have a permanent member of the leadership team, and have had a management restructure which was received quite positively this morning [ahead of the meeting].

‘Our financial governance is improved, our position has also improved and our grip and control has been one area which has helped us to understand finances.’