A TWO-YEAR budget with over £5m in savings has been agreed by Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership.

Inverclyde Integration Joint Board (IJB), which oversees the HSCP, launched a public consultation on its savings proposals in February.

As part of this, staff and residents were asked seven questions with the aim of understanding what people's priorities were.

Following this consultation, savings options were revised to reflect the responses received.

The IJB has now approved the plans, which will involve a review of the senior staffing structure and the loss of funding for the children and families education placement support.

Under the agreed plans, the community care and health service will see a reduction of six long-term beds over two years.

Hillend Respite Unit, which has been closed since March 2020, will also be decommissioned.

Reviews of several services and staffing models will be carried out, including the Inverclyde Supported Living Service for adults with learning disabilities and self-directed supports.

Councillor Robert Moran, chair of Inverclyde IJB, said: “This is one of the most challenging financial situations the IJB has ever encountered, and it is with the greatest consideration that these difficult decisions have had to be made.

“We appreciate the input from everyone who participated in the budget engagement, as your views helped guide our decision-making.

“We have eliminated increasing our charges for community alarms, day services, and transport and have focused on protecting frontline health and social care services - this is in line with our statutory duties.

“As we proceed with these savings, we will continue to engage with staff, service users, and our commissioned services.

“Our priority is to continue providing the best care possible to those who need us the most, which will remain at the heart of everything we do.”