FURTHER warnings have been given by a second councillor about potential care service changes in Argyll and Bute.
Councillor Kieron Green (Independent, Oban North and Lorn), who is a member of the area’s health and social care partnership (HSCP) integration joint board (IJB) advised at a meeting of community figures in Oban Lorn and the Isles.
It came a week after Councillor Gary Mulvaney (Conservative, Helensburgh Central) warned that tough decisions would need to be made by the IJB in due course.
The update from Councillor Green came at a meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s Oban Lorn and the Isles community planning group on Wednesday, May 14.
Colin Buchanan, of Luing Community Trust and chair of the community planning group, asked: “Is health and social care being reorganised in Argyll and Bute? There seems to be some changes happening in the way it is delivered.
“With my island hat on, it seems to refer back to some policy changes that have happened, but we were not aware, and it is having a high impact on care in the islands.”
Sarah Peacock, who spoke on behalf of the HSCP, said she would go back and ask the question as she operated in a different part of the HSCP.
However, Councillor Green then said: “The organisation has significant financial challenges and in some cases where have been individuals where care at home provision is less cost effective than a care home placement.
“Looking at provision of care going forward, there does need to be a degree of review. It is accepted that this may result in changes for some individuals.
“When we had an IJB meeting at the end of March, one item was finances and part of that was a review of high cost care packages to deliver savings in this financial year.
“We accept it will have an impact on communities but the alternative is that services would be unsustainable within the budget available.
“There are most likely more changes to come in terms of service delivery and it is something that everybody should probably be made aware of.”
At a meeting of the council’s policy and resources committee on Thursday, May 8, Councillor Mulvaney, who is also on the IJB, said: “I am not being critical of the IJB, but the seriousness of the position is such that we need to prepare our communities, and the IJB, for some really difficult decisions.
“Transformation has been talked about for a number of years and we need to start taking these decisions now, otherwise the organisation will not be financially sustainable.
“As a council, we simply do not have endless pots of money to help the way we have done in the past.”
The IJB is due to hold its next meeting on Wednesday, May 28.
