Shocking proposals to close care homes and privatise services, potentially leaving elderly people looking for new homes and threatening 400 jobs across Argyll and Bute, have emerged.
The cuts are to be discussed in private by Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership’s Integration Joint Board (IJB) at the end of the month as it attempts to make £13million worth of savings.
They propose the closure of all six publicly-run older people’s homes in the region: Eadar Glinn in Oban, Tigh A Ruhda on Tiree, Ardfenaig in Ardrishaig, Gortanvogie on Islay, Struan Lodge in Dunoon and Thomson Court in Rothesay.
If the council-run care homes are closed, residents would be “transferred to alternative external provision”.
Day care centres for older people and those with learning disabilities are also facing closure, including Lynnside and Lorn Resource Centre in Oban and Lochgilphead Resource Centre.
All remaining home care still provided by council home help staff in Mull, Coll, Tiree, Mid Argyll, Kintyre, Islay Jura and Colonsay would be privatised.
Unison Scotland has written an open letter to all public sector leaders in Argyll and Bute warning of its opposition to the cuts. The letter has been copied to Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister, Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Mike Russell MSP and all councillors and Unison members in Argyll and Bute.
Simon Macfarlane, Unison regional organiser, said: “Unison has been inundated with members contacting us to express their dismay and fears, both for their own jobs and the services they provide. The vast majority of our members working in Argyll and Bute HSCP live in Argyll and Bute, so they not only provide the services, they and their families use them too.
“The people of Argyll and Bute know only too well the dangers of outsourcing services, in the last 18 months we have seen independent providers go bust, walk away or be shut down due to appalling standards. It is incredible that against this backdrop the IJB is being asked to privatise all home care services.
“Our open letter states clearly UNISON is willing to work together with the NHS and Argyll and Bute Council to find a way forward that saves jobs, avoids privatisation, protects services and delivers an affordable budget. We are also clear though that if these cuts progress they will face outright opposition from Unison and we will be calling on Ministers to intervene.”
A spokesman for NHS Highland said: “We are planning to transform health and social care services to provide more services in the community to meet future service demand and prevent people being in hospital.
“The full financial position will be presented to the IJB at its meeting on March 28 for the board to consider and approve the service change proposals and savings required to balance the budget for 2018-19.
“To be clear, at this stage no decisions have been taken, the IJB will be presented with service change proposals for their consideration at their meeting on March 28.”
Vice chairman of the IJB and Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Health and Social Care, Councillor Kieron Green, said: “If staff are affected by any proposals we would want to make sure we go through appropriate consultation with groups affected.”
