A local health board chair says they "don't want to sugar coat" their financial situation as they face a funding "crisis".
Councillor Fiona Hennebry, West Dunbartonshire’s social work spokesperson, says they are under severe financial pressure after passing this year's budget.
The area's Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) forecasts future years facing yet more cuts to local services and jobs despite having passed several cuts in March.
Now, chair of the HSCP's audit committee, Cllr Hennebry, has called on further funding from the Scottish Government and hit out at the "flat cash" they have been receiving.
She said: “There is no way to sugar-coat this. The HSCP is under severe financial stress.
“Our social care services have had a 'flat cash' settlement since 2019.
“That’s six years without an inflationary uplift in social care funding, at the same time that the costs of providing social care services are going through the roof.
“This is not something that has just happened; it’s the result of political decisions not to give an inflationary uplift to social care, and this means that our only way to balance the budget is to cut social care services.
“I am flabbergasted by how much the Scottish Government talk about the need to invest in social care over the year, but when it comes to setting the budget, we still get flat cash."
Adult social care services offer care and support to people who need it to be able to participate in their community, and work with local communities to develop community-based support that helps people stay independent, safe and able to engage.
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They also provide connections to other services like local housing and community services.
Cllr Hennebry is calling for change to protect services in the years to come.
She continued: "This isn’t some abstract debate, our social care services are being underfunded each year, wages are going up, the costs of supplies and services are going up, and the cost of commissioned services and other service providers are also going up, but the HSCP funding faces a real-terms cut every year.
“We need things to change, and from past experience, it doesn’t look like the SNP Scottish Government will be changing their priorities next year to include social care.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are engaging with the HSCP to monitor its financial situation.
“In 2025/26, NHS Boards will receive increased investment of over £16.2 billion, with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) receiving over £3.12 billion.
"NHS GGC will receive a 3% baseline uplift of £91 million – this represents a 0.6% real terms increase compared to 2024-25.
"In 2025-26, West Dunbartonshire Council will receive £259 million to fund local services, which equates to an extra £14.1 million.”
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