A new report has warned “tough choices” will have to be made for the future of a north-east health and social care body should funding be cut further.
Members of the integrated joint board (IJB) of the Aberdeen Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) meet on Tuesday to discuss their annual budget following a £1.8 million cut from the city council.
The body has a budget of more than £300m funded by the council and NHS Grampian.
But the report warns that “major” parts of the budget are outwith their control including the cost of medicines and that demand is increasing for services.
Priority in future may need to be given to the most vulnerable, with it likely to prove “extremely difficult” to balance the budget in future with less funding.
There is also a risk that the organisation may have to stop paying workers the living wage.
The report reads: “However, should the levels of funding identified not be made available to the IJB in future years, then tough choices will need to be made about what the IJB wants to deliver.
“For example, without the additional funding being made available it is very unlikely that the IJB would be able to maintain the commitment to the Scottish living wage.
“Should demand continue to increase, the IJB may need to further prioritise services to those in greatest need.
“The types of services that the partnership provides are difficult to transform or reduce demand as the clients and patients are dependent on these services to support their daily living.
“It will be extremely difficult for the IJB to continue to generate the level of savings year on year to balance its budget.
“Of the £300 million budget available to the IJB only 50% is fully under our direct control and the majority of this is required for services which we have a statutory obligation to provide.”
