ARGYLL and Bute’s policy lead for care services says he welcomes the chance to debate a motion to declare a health and social care emergency at a meeting next week.
Councillor Dougie McFadzean (SNP, Kintyre and the Islands) also says that preparatory work is needed now ahead of funding for the area’s health and social care partnership being made known in the New Year.
A motion by Councillor Peter Wallace (Conservative, Isle of Bute) will ask the council to declare a health and social care emergency, as well as call on the Scottish Government to ensure realistic funding is available.
The council meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 26. Councillor Wallace’s motion has been seconded by Councillor Amanda Hampsey (Conservative, Oban South and the Isles).
Councillor McFadzean told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’d firstly like to thank Councillors Peter Wallace and Amanda Hampsey for their interest in the health and social care partnership’s fiscal position.
“Health and social care partnerships (HSCPs) across Scotland, and the wider system across the United Kingdon, find themselves in a financial situation which has resulted in extremely difficult decisions having to be considered.
“These difficulties have been well publicised for quite some time across the UK, and we in Argyll and Bute have not escaped these financial challenges and are certainly not some form of outlier in financial terms.
“Indeed, our HSCP is better placed than most within Scotland. We are actively looking at all available options within our funding envelope to not only make savings, but to explore opportunities to improve our services and offering.
“We are legally required to produce a balanced budget each and every year, and we will strive to do this for the coming financial year 2026/27.
“However, we will not know what the financial settlement for our HSCP will be until mid-January 2026 at the earliest, so preparatory work is required now to explore efficiency opportunities and income generation.
“I welcome the opportunity at next week’s council meeting for our 36 councillors to debate the motion.”
