Services are likely to be hit as health and social care chiefs across the north-east face a black hole in their budgets of nearly £7million, new reports have warned.
Health and Social Care Partnerships were launched last year to oversee “smooth transitions” between health and social care services.
They are overseen by Integrated Joint Boards (IJBs) – made up of local council, NHS and community representatives.
But new papers show the Aberdeen IJB expects to have blown its budget by £2.8million by the end of the financial year – and Aberdeenshire by £4.1million.
Moray is at present expected to remain within target.
Reports to the IJBs in the city and Aberdeenshire reveal cuts will have to be made across both boards.
In the city the main areas of overspending have been identified as prescribing (forecast £1.5million), learning disabilities (£983,000) and Grampian-wide services (£780,000).
But the predicted overspend has been reduced since June with the cash likely to be covered from existing budgets.
The Aberdeenshire IJB is to conduct a review of all vacant posts, the use of bank and agency staffing and the costs of supplies.
Aberdeen IJB vice-chairwoman Sarah Duncan, who serves as a councillor for Kincorth, Nigg and Cove, said the budget would be monitored closely for savings and a new programme was being put in place.
She said: “The IJB has been monitoring the financial position closely all year, given the well-known pressures of locum costs, particularly in mental health, and in the prescribing budget.
“Managers have been proactive and the projected overspend is now less than was predicted.
“If there is an overspend at the end of the financial year we have reserves and may also choose to use some of the transformation fund to cover it, to protect services as much as possible.
“In the medium and long term our transformation projects, where we use different skill mixes, new technology and provide more care in the community, are the best way to manage cost and ensure we have quality, sustainable services.
“I’m totally supportive of the transformation programme as the best way for us to properly manage the challenges.”
