Pandemic lessons could help with future budgets

Hopes have been raised that lessons learned during the coronavirus pandemic will help control spiralling care budgets in Moray.

Health and Social Care Moray has reported a £3 million overspend for 2019-20 after initially expecting the books to be balanced.

Forecasts predict the overspend will continue into next year due to the pandemic affecting progress with a recovery and transformation plan to revamp services.

However, it is hoped the rapidly changing crisis has also provided opportunities for the organisation, which is a partnership jointly funded by Moray Council and NHS Grampian, to learn how to tailor care for the future.

Shona Morrison, vice-chairwoman of the organisation’s integrated joint board (IJB), said: “One of the big things to have come from this Covid-19 time is that communities have really stepped up and the response has been phenomenal.

“We’re really grateful for that. Going forward we might look at how to harness that and see how it could fit in with health and social care.”

Reports produced for Health and Social Care

Moray’s IJB reported the overspend on the £120m annual budget was reduced by a £960,000 grant from the Scottish Government.

The remaining balance will be covered by NHS Grampian paying £1.3m and Moray Council paying £760,000 on top of the payments already made by both at the start of the financial year.

The biggest overspend was in the care and assessment of pensioners and those with sensory disabilities, which went £1.8m above target.

Officers report the trend was an indication of the shifting trend for people to remain in their own homes for longer.