SNP welcome progress with health & social care integration
SNP Council Group spokesman for Social Work Services Cllr. Andy Ferguson today (Tuesday) welcomed what he termed “a significant and hugely positive step forward” with the integration of health and social care, the biggest reform in the area of adult care since the creation of the NHS.
Commenting following today’s Social Work Committee meeting, Cllr. Ferguson said:
“Following on from yesterday’s highly successful joint NHS and Local Authority meeting in Dumfries, the decision today to merge the different reviews of how we deliver social care in the region is a significant and hugely positive step forward as we strive to meet the April 2015 deadline.
“These far-reaching reviews, which were instigated by the SNP-led Social Work Committee, include care at home, commissioning and a raft of other services. Of particular interest is the recognition of the contribution made by voluntary day centres and the uniqueness of these centres as they reflect the huge variance in lower level care needs across the region.
“To determine the financial support for the day centres within their own locality is a huge step forward.”
“This has not been an easy journey and it would be remiss of me if I was not to thank the hard working staff within both Social Work and the wider Council for all their efforts, working with me and our NHS and Third Sector partners to deliver this very positive outcome.
“It is also my understanding that the 2013/14 final financial out-turn for Social Work will return a balanced budget for the first time in many years and this is largely down to the work of our very dedicated staff.”
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