Moray Integration Joint Board approves 33 cost saving measures to help ease pressure on region’s health and care system
A RECOVERY plan which includes 33 cost saving measures has been approved to help ease financial pressures on Moray’s health and care system.
Members of the Moray Integration Joint Board (IJB) approved the cuts, which will save £8.3 million, at a meeting last week.
The IJB hopes that the plan will preserve as many frontline services in Moray as possible while also finding savings in its bid to plug a £10.2 million funding gap.
But warnings have been issued that the problems facing the board and the region could get worse despite cuts being approved.
IJB member Sandy Riddell, speaking at the meeting, said: “There are a lot of known unknowns in terms of inflation and supply costs and all sorts of other things that we’re going to have to deal with so there could be a lot more pain further down the line.”
The recovery plan will “redesign and transform” services in an effort to improve the “quality, safety and efficiency” of them, according to Chief Officer of Health and Social Care Moray Simon Bokor-Ingram.
Mr Bokor-Ingram said: “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.
“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.”
The IJB says that the 33 proposed savings will be implemented throughout the year and that relevant stakeholders will be consulted.
Key proposals for 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 nighttime 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 childrens and justice services.
• Transport efficiencies.
Prior to the meeting, senior officials described the need to find savings as the “most challenging situation” the IJB has ever faced.
Tracy Colyer, Chair of the IJB, said: “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.”
