Concerns over volunteers

A COUNCILLOR has expressed concerns about the Scottish Government looking for volunteers to help run care services over the winter.

Labour’s Martin McCluskey raised the issue at a meeting of the social work and social care scrutiny panel, following a letter from the Health Secretary setting out steps to be taken to prepare for winter.

Councillor McCluskey said: “I wanted to raise the issue of the letter which suggested that volunteers should be used to support care at home.

“I would be concerned if volunteers were used to reduce stress in the service.”

But the local head of health and community care Allen Stevenson moved to reassure the Gourock councillor that would not be the case in Inverclyde.

He said that third sector organisations like Your Voice and Compassionate Inverclyde will be drafted in to help support those without families.

Mr Stevenson said: “It helps us to make sure that those who are going home from hospital have support.”