Willie Paton, the carer representative on Renfrewshire Integration Joint Board (IJB), has resigned following the approval of controversial cost-cutting proposals worth nearly £2.6 million. Paton, a non-voting member of the oversight body, stepped down after a highly charged summit last month.
Cost-cutting measures approved
Measures drawn up to save Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) just under £2.6 million were agreed at the IJB on Friday, June 19. These included the reduction of health visiting; redesign of older adults and learning and physical disability day service models; review of respite provision; closures of Flexicare and Autism Connections; and removal of the assertive outreach model.
Paton's criticism
Mr Paton did not hold back on the plans, firing at the meeting: "This whole document here is about slash and burn. Again, it's about putting more pressure on to the carers' shoulders. This isn't just about money, this is about real life." He added: "People are dying ... The stress and the strain that you place with your decisions in these chambers are killing people. I know there are people who will disagree with that but you're not the people who are dealing with the stress and the strain and the daily trials and tribulations that these cuts bring."
Financial pressures
The outcome, supported by all voting members bar one, followed consideration of a report warning of repercussions if the IJB cannot close its funding gap. As reserves diminish and the risk of being unable to balance the books grows, the threat of entering a 'last-resort position' known as 'financial recovery' has intensified.
Chief officer defends approach
Billy McClean, chief officer of the HSCP, responded at the meeting: "We, as officers, have looked at other options and we brought forward other options to discuss with the IJB back very soon after September." He added: "But I think all of us recognised, both officers and IJB members, that actually the alternative proposals were even worse than what has been proposed. The other thing from our perspective is that the proposals aim to protect services, so the alternative is that we enter financial recovery quicker. That becomes unpredictable and potentially unsafe and certainly will have an impact on unpaid carers and others across the system. That's something that we're looking to avoid, we're looking to take a planned approach."
Further resignations
Mark Halliwell, the stand-in carer representative, has also resigned. It is understood the IJB has begun the process of seeking nominations for replacements.
