The number of surgery support staff working across West Dunbartonshire’s GP surgeries is to be cut from nine down to five as the region’s Health and Social Care Partnership cuts jobs due to “considerable financial challenges”.
West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (West Dunbartonshire HSCP) is to slash the service, with one workers’ union branding the move “a farce” and the national third sector intermediary, The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (The ALLIANCE), which currently employs the nine Community Links Workers described it as “deeply concerning”.
The Community Links Workers (CLW), work alongside GPs in surgeries to deliver dedicated support with non-medical problems impacting on patients’ health, such as debt, housing, loneliness, food and fuel poverty, and abuse.
The service is at risk as a report being considered by the HSCP suggests cuts to surgery workers are needed to deliver half of the £320,000 savings required to balance the books this year.
GMB Scotland, the union representing the staff, accused the HSCP of notifying GPs of the cuts before informing the CLWs that their jobs are to be made redundant.
A spokesperson for West Dunbartonshire HSCP this week said: “As is the case for healthcare services across the country, West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership is facing considerable financial challenges.
“The HSCP fully understands the importance of the Community Link Worker programme and the positive impact it has had on both patients and healthcare providers.
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“We would like to thank all those involved in the service for their hard work and commitment.
“West Dunbartonshire HSCP and The ALLIANCE are engaged in dialogue on how we move forward with the contract for Community Link Workers in light of the current financial situation.
“A further meeting is planned for next week.”
Responding to the news, a spokesperson for the ALLIANCE said that the cuts were implemented without prior engagement from the West Dunbartonshire HSCP, describing it as “deeply concerning”.
They added: “The Community Links Worker role is critical to working with individuals to tackle deep rooted issues like poverty, mental health, and wellbeing. Reducing their number not only puts jobs at risk but undermines a service that has proven essential to those most vulnerable in our communities.
“This short-term thinking is inefficient and ineffective and is putting this essential service at risk.
“We urge the Scottish Government and the Integrated Joint Board to intervene and ensure the long-term sustainability of this programme, which is the foundation of equitable, preventative healthcare across West Dunbartonshire.”
GMB Scotland says that the cuts were “railroaded through”.
Policy & External Relations Officer for GMB Scotland, Rory Steel said: “It demonstrates a blatant disregard for frontline workers that they found out about these cuts from a third party and without any discussion with the workforce.
“CLWs are vital to supporting the most vulnerable in the heart of communities alleviating pressure on frontline GP services. For a small cost, CLWs reduce hardship for people in the here and now and future spending needs across West Dunbartonshire.
“Neither the council leadership, HSCP or Scottish Government are innocent in this farce. All three need to get round the table with GMB Scotland and agree a plan to protect posts.”
GMB Scotland previously warned that the cuts would be a “false economy” as patients’ physical and mental health suffers and pressure is piled on GPs.
The union wrote to West Dunbartonshire Council leader, Councillor Martin Rooney – who is also an HSCP board member – as well as Chief Officer of the HSCP Beth Culshaw, urging a review of alternative funding to protect the community links workers and asked for joint talks with the Scottish Government to help halt the cuts.
But the union this week said that Cllr Rooney “failed to keep his commitment to discuss alternatives to job losses” and Ms Culshaw has failed to respond.