Moray Integration Joint Board (IJB) has approved a £201m revenue budget to deliver health and social care services for children, adults and older people in the year ahead.
However, the board faces a £10.2 million funding gap in 2024/25 and today (30 May) agreed a financial recovery plan to address the budget deficit in a manageable way while protecting frontline services.
The recovery plan is focused on opportunities for redesign and transformation in order to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of services, said Simon Bokor-Ingram, Chief Officer of Health & Social Care Moray, and will support the partnership to contribute to better health, wellbeing and quality of life outcomes for Moray’s citizens.
“Financial pressures and increasing levels of demand mean that services can no longer be provided in the same way. A community focused health and care system prioritised to local need and individualised support is most effective where that support maximises independence, and that is what we are working to achieve,” Mr Bokor-Ingram said.
“We are confident that despite the challenges posed by a significant budget deficit, by reforming our service delivery we will be able to make the savings needed in a sustainable way and with the least possible impact.”
Key proposals in the recovery plan to deliver £8.3m of in-year of savings, include:
- Redesign of services including care at home; the vaccination programme; Ward 4 in-patient services at Dr Gray’s; community hospitals; the GMED out of hours service; and the night-time model of care delivery within learning disability services.
- Review of areas including care packages; care purchasing; respite provision and care home bed usage; day services; complex and challenging behaviour units; learning disability services; step-down building based facilities; charging policy and self-directed support (SDS) pay points; transport; and commissioning and contracts.
- Prescribing efficiencies and technology-enabled support.
- Implementing the proportionate care model.
- Reducing the use of leased buildings and relocating services
- Efficiency savings in Children’s & Justice Services.
- Transport efficiencies.
Tracy Colyer, Chair of the IJB, said: “As a board, we have a duty to set a balanced budget and to achieve best value for the public pound. These savings proposals will enable us to direct our limited resources to deliver more effective, flexible and affordable services.
“Moving forward, we will continue to work together with our staff, partners and communities to listen to and understand concerns and reduce any impact where possible as our recovery plan progresses.”
The savings initiatives will be phased in during 2024/25 and will be subject to engagement and consultation activities as required with stakeholders.
