Cuts to social care in Glasgow are leaving disabled people with “no support to wash, dress, eat or go to the toilet”, a charity has warned.
Glasgow Disability Alliance [GDA] said consecutive cuts have “eroded equality and rights” and called for a reform of the “broken” social care system.
The comments came as Glasgow’s Integration Joint Board [IJB] — a partnership between the council and NHS, which runs health and social care in the city — agreed to almost £22m of cuts on Wednesday.
Read more: Man dies on campus at Glasgow University as emergency services rushed to scene
Board members were faced with a funding shortfall of around £40m and also approved using £17m of reserves to plug the gap.
A spokeswoman for Glasgow’s health and social care partnership [HSCP] said the pressure on public finances was “significant” but officials had tried to minimise the impact on services.
The GDA said the cuts would impact “lifeline” services for disabled people. They include plans to slash over £2m from a self-directed support budget for adults and older people and remove £900,000 from Care at Home and mainstream home care services.
Around £3.8m will be saved by cutting 50 jobs across community health teams and £2m will be taken from a budget for purchased care home beds, which helps with hospital discharges.
The alliance reported a survey of 250 members, in May last year, found there was already unmet need in social care in Glasgow, with 58% of people saying they relied on family and friends as they were unable to access support.
Tressa Burke, GDA chief executive, said: “While we appreciate the challenges facing local government finance, consecutive cuts to social care have eroded equality and rights over a period of years, leaving many with no support to wash, dress, eat or go to the toilet.
“Social isolation and loneliness has been compounded by feelings of being let down by the very services that they trusted to support them, leaving disabled and older people with a sense of despair and hopelessness.”
She called on the IJB to work with disabled people to fix the social care system.
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: “Those struggling with addiction, people who are homeless and those who require frontline social care services are all going to bear the brunt of fewer and fewer resources being available.
“As people in the city continue to grapple with the cost of living crisis, they will be extremely worried at not being able to access frontline services.
“This will only increase the risk of health inequalities widening and more and more people not getting the vital support that they need. Health and social care services are in crisis.”
After yesterday’s meeting, Cllr Cecilia O’Lone, Labour, said social care in the city is “already at crisis point” and the decision will “only add to the pressure on our crucial services”.
Cllr Audrey Dempsey, Labour, added the cuts are “soul destroying for the vulnerable in the city”. “We have to defend the rights of our citizens and fight for what they deserve,” she said.
The HSCP spokeswoman said: “The pressure on public service budgets is significant — and high inflation means that this year has been a particular challenge.
“Officers have worked hard to bring forward a balanced budget that, wherever possible, minimises the impact on services and invests in priorities.
"Clearly, though, members of the Integration Joint Board have serious concerns and will be making that point to stakeholders.”
READ NEXT -
Cocaine fuelled Paisley thug who suffocated girl, 4, and broke her arms jailed
Spurned lover pounced on ex and stabbed her while she worked in Rutherglen Tesco
Missing Paisley boy, 13, last seen at Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow
Person injured in major Paisley fire as emergency services remain on scene
Historic Art Deco facade of Marks and Spencer on Sauchiehall Street saved from demolition
