HEALTH and social care chiefs have agreed to work to make day services more sustainable in Argyll and Bute.
A review into the future of the services found that the preferred option moving forward was “A structured redesign programme that develops a sustainable, outcome-based model”.
A meeting of the area’s health and social care partnership’s (HSCP) integration joint board on Wednesday, September 16 asked for a decision to be deferred for two weeks to allow further consideration.
The IJB reconvened on Wednesday, September 30, and it was unanimously decided to pursue the option of making day services more financially sustainable.
The option was fully described in a report as “A structured redesign programme that provides outcomes for older adults and their carers that are currently delivered through day services but as a more sustainable model as part of the wider social care system.
“This should consider utilisation, access, measurable outcomes and integration with wider health and social care pathways, including commissioned, community and partnership provision where this better meets local need.”
Two other options were listed in the report – closing adult day services, or closing day services that cannot be made sustainable. However, neither of these were recommended nor approved.
Councillor Kieron Green (Independent, Oban North and Lorn) said: “Given the interdependencies identified here, and the potential impact on other services from this restructure, I would personally be more comfortable pursuing the restructure without necessarily an expectation of a fixed amount of savings attached.
“What we could say to officers is that they maximise any potential saving identified, but at this point, expecting a fixed amount of saving forces us into potential options which do not actually deliver on the outcomes, and have a negative impact potentially on other services.”
Councillor Dougie McFadzean (SNP, Kintyre and the Islands) added: “Councillor Green makes a good point. The process is not about savings or setting targets to save X amount of thousands of pounds per year.
“With the understanding that the services we provide are intertwined and reliant upon one another, I would agree with the point that we should not be setting a target.”
IJB chair Graham Bell said: “The officers have heard what we have said about how much it will cost, so there has to be some realism in there.
“But we have to meet the need that is there. We know we are giving you (officers) a really difficult juggling act.”
The IJB then unanimously agreed to accept the option, after which Mr Bell added: “For some people, these services are a lifeline, so we do not envy you your task, but we look forward to really trying to move on this.
