Budget set by health and social care partnership

News

Spending plans for Falkirk’s local health and social care services have been approved by the Integration Joint Board, the decision-making body made up of representatives from Falkirk Council, NHS Forth Valley, staff, carers, and service users.

The annual budget, worth £312m, has been set against a challenging financial backdrop for public bodies, with the Partnership working to address a £21m budget gap over the next three years.

The budget has been agreed following extensive public consultation which engaged more than 980 people in the Falkirk area, and a tailored process to agree funding for community and voluntary organisations delivering support in the local area.

As part of a £3.2m investment in services delivered by community and voluntary organisations, 23 organisations will receive funding for 31 local projects covering end of life care, dementia, support for people with disabilities, domestic abuse, substance use, mental health, community health, and carer support.

To address ongoing high demand for services and potential financial risks over the next year, both Falkirk Council and NHS Forth Valley have indicated further funding commitments may be required to support the Partnership respond to any emerging challenges within its current finances.

Marie Keirs, Chief Finance Officer, Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “I am grateful for the contributions of staff, community groups, people who access our services, and local people in Falkirk which have informed decisions to set this year’s budget.

“Together we have had tough, but constructive, discussions about the service changes needed to move towards a balanced budget on a recurring basis.

“We have been engaging with services and partners across the local health and social care landscape to explore ways of doing things differently, to ensure services are on a stable financial footing and so people in Falkirk can consistently rely on support when they need it.”

The £312m budget includes investment of:

  • £55.3m in care and support at home services across the Falkirk area.
  • £55m within Primary Care.
  • £45.6 within large hospital services (unscheduled care).
  • £43.4m for residential care within care homes and bedded community facilities which provide short-term rehabilitation care.
  • £35.5 for prescribing.
  • £9.4m in mental health services and support within the community.
  • £9.1m to support social work assessment and care planning.
  • £9m to support community-based Allied Health Professionals, which cover occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language support, dietetics, podiatry, and prosthetics and orthotics.
  • £7.6m in Falkirk and Bo’ness Community Hospitals.
  • £6.3 within District Nursing.
  • £5.3m to fund support delivered by voluntary and community organisations.
  • £2.1m in community learning disability support.

Further information about the Partnership’s budget, including the full report, can be found on the Integration Joint Board webpage.