Health watchdogs have found that older people in the north-east are being mostly well served by efforts to integrate health and social care – but some people faced dangerous delays.
A four-month inspection of Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership found it was delivering “good outcomes for many”.
However, the report concluded that delays meant a few vulnerable patients were being left “at significant risk of harm over a protracted period”.
The partnership said measures had subsequently been implemented which meant no-one was exposed to such danger and pointed out the inspection took place before the new body was fully operational.
The assessment by the Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland gave a “very good” rating for impact on the community.
Of eight other measures, two were ranked “good”, five “adequate” and one – delivering key processes – “poor”.
Inspectors found, during their visit between November and February, that a shortage of home care workers meant some older people and carers “struggled to cope while they waited”.
Karen Reid, chief executive of the Care Inspectorate stated the partnership “needs to focus on improving access to key services”.
ACHSCP chief officer Judith Proctor said a subsequent external review found “no one was at significant risk and revealed no underlying systemic problems” and that inspectors did not plan to revisit the issue.
She added that efforts were being made to address the “challenges” of recruiting sufficient care staff to avoid delays.
Liberal Democrat spokesman Martin Greig responded: “There are some welcome good conclusions, but there is no room for complacency when it comes to looking after vulnerable people.”
