Tens of millions of pounds worth of cuts to care services approved
CUTS to health and social care services in Glasgow have been approved.
This week the Glasgow Times reported how the Integration Joint Board a partnership between the council and health board was looking to make £ 36 million worth of cuts and savings to balance its budget.
The budget was approved at a meeting on Wednesday.
It has been recognised it will mean services will be cut, 150 jobs will be lost and there will be longer waits for services.
Officials warned that the financial situation is so serious that further cuts would see the council and health board rising breaching their statutory duty to provide core services.
The health and social care partnership provides care services in the community for some of the most in- need and disadvantaged people in the city.
It includes care at home, homeless services and daycare centres for people.
On top of the £ 34m this year, the forecast is that another £ 80m of savings will be needed in the following two years.
The IJB said to focus on continuing to provide core services to the people most in need, “those who are acutely unwell”, it is planning to cut other services “which are not core services”.
The council is contributing £ 501,647,000 and the health board £ 943,801,000 for the next year and it is not anticipated there will be any uplift in the following two years.
Labour councillors on the board said they did not vote for the cuts
Speaking after the meeting, Labour representative on the IJB, Councillor Cecilia O’Lone said: “We were unable to support this budget and voted to reject these cuts.
“This ‘ cuts’ budget poses a significant threat to the welfare of our city’s most vulnerable citizens, resulting in potential breaches of our statutory duties.
“Although we could not support the budget, we did call on the Leader of the Council, MSPs and the relevant officer to engage with the Scottish Government and partner organisations to request additional funding.
“We must assist in helping our city’s most vulnerable and ensure we do not breach any of our statutory obligations around caring and support.”
A spokesperson for Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership said: “Glasgow City Integration Joint Board ( IJB) faces the same financial challenges and pressures that all public services across Scotland face.
“It is completely understandable that setting a balanced budget in the current financial climate is exceptionally difficult. Officers worked hard to bring forward a budget that identified £ 36m worth of savings and, wherever possible, protects core services.”
Unions staged a protest yesterday against the cuts warning they would affect people in the city for years to come.
What do you think of cuts to health and social care services? Email letters@glasgowtimes.co.co.uk