People affected by cuts to health and social care in Renfrewshire must be “kept in the loop” throughout the process, an elected member has said.
Councillor Iain McMillan sought reassurance that any implementation of measures to address the budget black hole facing the health and social care partnership (HSCP) will be “handled sensitively”.
The Labour group leader issued the plea at a meeting of the integration joint board (IJB), the body responsible for oversight of the HSCP, on Friday. Councillor McMillan, who represents Johnstone South and Elderslie, said: “I would just want to be reassured that people affected by these decisions are kept in the loop and they know what’s happening.
“I wouldn’t say it’s quite on a daily basis but on a regular basis I get people contacting me about some of the decisions, how it’s going to affect them, and out in the street, at the supermarkets as well as your traditional emails, people are speaking about it.
“People are really, really concerned so I suppose I would seek that reassurance that these issues are handled sensitively, communications are kept going and we involve not only service users but trade unions and staff members as well.”
The request was made as members discussed a phased approach to the delivery of savings agreed in December and ideas that will be developed further and engaged upon.
Efforts to close a funding gap of £11.8 million in 2025/26 – a figure that estimates have previously said could stretch to £34.9m the following year – have ramped up in recent months.
The IJB’s decision before Christmas will lead to the implementation of around £13.8m of savings over the next three financial years and further engagement of approximately £3.3m of savings ideas covering the same period.
In the former category are areas such as operational efficiencies, where processes can be delivered more effectively, and vacancy or post management.
The latter covers the redesign of service delivery models, including a review of the learning disabilities respite service and of children’s services health visiting, and closures through the removal of Flexicare, Autism Connections and Childsmile.
Frances Burns, head of strategic planning and health improvement, said: “Following that meeting, the senior management team have considered the next steps and how we take account of the scale and breadth of savings activity that’s going to be required alongside working in an exceptionally challenging operating environment.
“Also, importantly, is the IJB and HSCP’s desire to sustain our current strong performance across our services as far as possible.” She added a phased approach will allow the HSCP to deliver agreed savings alongside balancing “demand and capacity pressures” across the system.
Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, member of the board and SNP representative for Renfrew North and Braehead, described the approach as “sensible and appropriate”.
She added: “It is a power of work that you have to do and I don’t think any of us want to do much of this but I am pleased that you’ve given yourself enough time to do the work.
“I think the pressures are enormous and I could understand if that made us want to do things quickly but I think giving yourself time to do it and feel that you’ve done things properly and engaged properly with people is the right thing to do.”
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