More assessment staff to be recruited
Stirling Council is to recruit staff in a bid to cut the length of time elderly people are having to wait for care assessments. The move is in response to latest figures which show 12 per cent of over 65s with “critical or substantial needs” are waiting longer than six weeks for social care assessment in Stirling Council area.
The data is included in the Scottish Government quarterly monitoring return and covers the period January until March.
One in 10 with “substantial needs” in the area is waiting beyond six weeks for service delivery after having finally been assessed, according to the latest report.
Mid Scotland and Fife Tory MSP Dean Lockhart said that it was proof that the SNP Government was not adequately protecting vulnerable people who require health and social care packages.
He said: “At present many patients are facing an unacceptably long wait for social care packages.
“In some cases this lack of co-ordination will delay their hospital discharge and in other cases patients are forced to live in completely unsuitable and unsupported environments.
“For patients, carers and family members it is extremely distressing waiting this long for assessment and care packages.
“In addition, GPs and other primary care services have to shoulder much of the caring burden during this time, and they are already under extreme pressure.
Mr Lockhart said that Scottish Conservatives were calling for joint working and information sharing with housing associations and pharmacies, and developing partnerships between the ambulance service, health and social care services and the third sector.
A council spokesman said: “We are sorry that some residents are waiting excessive times for their assessments and understand that this delay can be very difficult for older adults and their families.
“This has been caused by an increasing demand from our communities and to improve our service we will soon begin recruiting new staff to allow us to reduce waiting times. Longer-term we will reshape our services to better meet the needs of our residents and improve our standards across Adult Social Care.
“Stirling Council is committed to supporting our older residents to remain in their own homes and we will be doing everything we can in the coming years, with our key partners such as the NHS, to deliver the best outcomes possible for older adults.”