Carers rally to reinstate supported living packages for Glasgow’s vulnerable
Service cuts spark anger as carers demand urgent action from city’s Health and Social Care Partnership
Carers in Glasgow are stepping up their fight to reinstate supported living packages for the city’s elderly population, with a lunchtime rally taking place outside the City Chambers today.
The event comes as part of growing frustration over the recent cuts to services for vulnerable residents.
The service, which has been vital in helping elderly people live independently, was axed due to the £42.5 million cuts introduced by the city’s Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).
The HSCP has also announced cuts to a sexual assault counselling service at the Sandyford Sexual Health Clinic.
READ MORE: Supported living packages cut for vulnerable people in Glasgow
The decision to axe the supported living packages is expected to save £2.3 million annually but will impact 39 elderly and vulnerable individuals who currently rely on daily visits from home carers.
The move is also set to redeploy 60 full-time equivalent roles into mainstream care, a decision that has drawn criticism from trade unions, including the GMB, and families, who fear that this will lead to more people being pushed into residential care.
'I'm angry and in disbelief'
Carer, Pauline Mulheron, told Greatest Hits Radio: "I just can't believe what they're doing to the most vulnerable people in our society.
"I've went through a range of different emotions - I was upset, but I'm also angry and in disbelief.
"These are not numbers, these are people's lives we're talking about here.
"These are people who want to live independently in their own homes, and no other service offers this kind of support.
"Some of these people have no one else to see on a daily basis, they have no family.
"This is going to be detrimental to their wellbeing and their health.
"I have no doubts it's going to cause people to die well before they should be dying."
'Understandable'
The cuts come as part of a package of savings agreed by the Integrated Joint Board (IJB) responsible for overseeing health and social care services.
In a bid to balance the budget, which is a legal requirement, the IJB voted to approve cuts despite opposition from Green councillor Jon Molyneaux, who called for the budget to be deferred so that more funding could be sought from both the Scottish and UK Governments.
READ MORE: Potential cuts to Glasgow supported living packages loom
The board agreed to write to the Chancellor demanding full compensation for cost pressures arising from changes to national insurance, as well as lobbying the Scottish Government to reverse cuts to mental health funding.
A spokeswoman for the Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership said: “It is understandable for families who are unable to look after their loved ones themselves to feel concerned, however the small number of service users who currently receive a supported living service will be assessed to ensure their needs are met, whether through our mainstream Care at Home Service or alternative care and support, if deemed necessary.
“Family members will be kept informed.”
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