Scottish Labour’s candidate for Na h-
Mrs Grant said “At the beginning of March, the Scottish Government issued
a press release hailing increases in health board funding. For the Western Isles,
the announcement was that there was an increase of 4.6% on last year’s budget, which
included an ‘investment in social care’ of £1.6 million.
“Any reasonable person reading
the statement would conclude that health services in the Western Isles were to receive
4.6% more in 2016/17 than they had in the previous year, but that is not the case.
Labour candidate queries Scottish Government health funding figures
28 April 2016
“Social care is a responsibility of the Comhairle, either by direct provision such
as their home care service or their own care homes, or by commissioning services
through the independent sector, such as Bethesda, Blar Buidhe or Leverburgh Care
Home.”
Mrs Grant continued “Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has had a reduction of £4.2
million or 4.5% in grant support from the Scottish Government for this current year
but needless to say this was not hailed in a press release.
“The ‘investment in social
care’ of £1.6 million, given to the health board, has to be transferred to the new
integration joint board to be invested in social care (a council responsibility).
“The
“historic concordat” (remember that?) put an end to ring fencing local government
finance, therefore paying this money through health boards does two things; it ring
fences the money without breaching the concordat and it also gives the misleading
impression that the Scottish Government is protecting NHS funding.”
The Labour candidate
continued “The real position is that the Scottish Government funded health services
in the Western Isles in total to the amount of £81.8 million for 2015/16. For 2016/17,
they have indicated a funding settlement of £83.7 million. The Government funding
is computed in the knowledge that there are unavoidable cost increases to health
services in the Western Isles of £2.5 million, with nationally
agreed pay rises, nationally
imposed national insurance increases and related costs.
“So, far from enjoying an
increase in health budget, reality is that the new financial year starts with the
local health service needing to find reductions and savings to balance the books.
“There
is a serious problem locally to be addressed about social care provision, at home
and in care homes.
“The work being done to bring health and social care together is
supported across all political parties. The links between inadequate social care
support and delayed discharges in hospital are well recognised.”
Mrs Grant said “As
I speak to people at their doors I hear stories of inadequate support and people
remaining in hospital inappropriately.
While the staff there are kind and caring, it is not a home or homely environment.
“If
the SNP government had not reduced funding to the Comhairle from £92.6 million to
£88.4 million, the prospects for real investment in social care would be positive.
This cut will make the situation for social care worse and will not be adequately
recompensed by the social care funding routed through the health board.
“This funding
smoke and mirrors does nothing to recognise the plight of our elderly people but
seeks to try and make the SNP look better in an election year – they simply care
about winning the election not protecting our older generation who paid their taxes
and brought us up.”