'Most vulnerable at risk' under proposed cuts to 'lifeline care'

Rory Steel of GMB Scotland is warning officials that cuts to surgery support staff will lead to poorer health for vulnerable patients.

West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) is proposing that almost half of community link workers will be axed.

Community links staff, working alongside GPs in surgeries, deliver support with non-medical problems impacting patients' health, such as debt, housing, loneliness, food and fuel poverty, and abuse.

Rory warns the loss of four of these nine specialist support workers will remove crucial protection and support for patients while piling more pressure on clinical staff.

A report being considered by the HSCP suggests cuts to surgery workers are needed to deliver half of the £320,000 savings required to balance the books this year.

Rory Steel, GMB Scotland policy and external affairs officer, said: “The gap in life expectancy between the richest and poorest neighbourhoods in Scotland has never been wider and the work of the community links workers has never been more needed.

“The loss of their support will lead to more ill health and poorer outcomes for some of the most vulnerable patients.

“These proposed savings are nothing of the kind.

“They are a short-sighted false economy and will only increase health inequalities, pressure on GPs, and hospital admissions while leading to many more preventable deaths.

“The Partnership should take them off the table and find a new way forward.”

According to recent council data on the socio-economic profile of the authority, West Dunbartonshire is the third most deprived area in Scotland.

The union has written to Martin Rooney, West Dunbartonshire Council leader, urging him to order a review of alternative funding to protect the community links workers and asking for joint talks with the Scottish Government to help halt the cuts.

A HSCP spokesperson said: "As is the case for healthcare services across the country, West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership is facing considerable financial challenges. The HSCP is committed to working within its means, and to help achieve that it has needed to make a number of difficult decisions about the services it provides.

"The HSCP fully understands the importance of the Community Link Worker programme and the positive impact it has had on both patients and healthcare providers. We would like to thank all those involved in the service for their hard work and commitment.

"We are doing all we can to maintain the level of service for the most vulnerable people across West Dunbartonshire, and as such we plan to adopt a targeted approach so that our scarce resources can be concentrated in the most deprived areas, ensuring the people with the most need have continuing access to support.

"We would like to apologise for any distress or uncertainty this difficult decision might cause."