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Press and Journal
29-05-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
Apologetic Aberdeenshire health boss admits care cuts 'caused distress' as she vows to 'repair broken trust'
Newly appointed health boss Leigh Jolly has apologised for the 'confusion and distress' inflicted upon residents hit by social care cuts. Ms Jolly took on the leading role at Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) in April after former chief Pam Milliken moved on amid a major funding crisis. And her first task was to get the controversial recovery plan drafted by her predecessor over the line in a bid to save the partnership £17 million. This included slashing a number of services – including axing daycare projects and transport for the disabled, as well as devising a drastic redesign of in-house home care. The proposed changes and lack of information sparked outrage among residents, who feared their loved ones would be left without the vital care they need. Ms Jolly has now admitted that they haven't communicated the plans appropriately, and apologised for the worry and distress project leaders have caused to all affected by the cuts. Kicking off a six-hour debate, the health chief admitted they have failed to explain the savings project correctly, leaving people with 'conflated and confusing' information. And she promised to learn from that mistake going forward after members of the Integration Joint Board voted through all of the proposed cuts yesterday. As part of the recovery plan, home care and Aberdeenshire Responders Care at Home Service (Arch) will be merged, while all transport for disabled people will be axed. Daycare activities for older people across three very sheltered housing facilities will also be slashed from 10 to five sessions per week, and eight learning disability projects will be terminated. However, Ms Jolly stressed that none of these will be enforced before a suitable alternative is found for each person who needs care. She said: 'In my previous role as chief social work officer, I outlined that we would not leave anyone who was assessed as having substantial or critical need without a service. 'We have to date not got this right for everyone, and I sincerely apologise to anyone who has been impacted and left worried by any of our communications and actions. 'And while we still have to make significant changes, we would do this openly and honestly to ensure that no one is left without an alternative plan.' Several concerned residents went before the board to share their personal experiences in hope of halting the bemoaned cuts to their care services. Through tears, Sandra Wood spoke of non-verbal son Fraser, who might lose his nurturing environment at Fraserburgh Day Opportunities once the criteria is changed. Meanwhile, Denise MacDonald told the board about her sister-in-law Ellie, who has Down's syndrome and needs to be monitored regularly. She attends the same centre as Fraser five days a week and now her spot there is at risk, with her sessions potentially dropping down to two or three. After listening to their heartfelt stories, Ms Jolly once again promised to work with all families to ensure no one loses out on the care they need. She acknowledged the discrepancies in how the drastic changes have been communicated and how they have been perceived by residents. And she admitted this is their mistake to fix. She said: 'I think the trust is broken, and we have a lot of work to do to regain the trust of the people in our communities. 'I'm hoping that those of you who have experienced confusion or distress have had feedback from the services by now to say that we've got this wrong. 'As your new chief officer, what you will get from me is honesty – we will put our hands up, say we haven't got things right and work together to ensure that we do get it right.' She then explained that these closures will not happen overnight, and vowed to learn from their mistakes and reach out to each family about how they would be impacted. Now that the initial proposals have been agreed, health officials will start ironing out the details of each of the changes. This would involve setting up a new eligibility criteria for home and day care, figuring out alternative plans with private providers and sorting out possible redundancies. Ms Jolly added: 'What I want to do is understand and have a real picture of every single person who will be impacted by any decisions. 'And then, I want us to create a very clear plan in terms of communication and how we come meet families in your communities and talk to you face to face. 'We absolutely have to listen to what you've got to say and use that to inform our decision-making.'
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Aberdeenshire social care cuts see families 'face uncertainty'
Cuts are to be made to services for adults with learning disabilities in projects will close as part of efforts to find £17m of savings at Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) this centres will stay open, but fewer people will be eligible to attend, while social care transport is to be cut almost board overseeing AHSCP said services would not be removed until alternative provision was found, but families said they were faced with uncertainty. Aberdeenshire Integration Joint Board (IJB) said changes had to be made or it risked the financial stability of AHSCP. The Accounts Commission warned earlier this year that the financial position of all Scotland's IJBs was "precarious".During a meeting in Aberdeen on Wednesday, Aberdeenshire IJB decided to end the use of buses and taxis to take people to members also halved the number of activity hubs for older people and opted to outsource the vast majority of at-home care. Families gathered outside the meeting to protest against the Anderson Coltherd, whose 18-year-old daughter Erin attends a day centre in Fraserburgh, said: "Even though we've been told she'll keep her place, we're quite apprehensive about what that place will look like because we don't think that is going to be the same as it is now. "She really thrives there.""It's been really stressful. We can't sleep at night. What kind of service is going to be left for them?" Saddiq Ahmed's son uses day services in the Crimond area."Alexander is 36 years old, he's autistic," he Ahmed claimed families were being treated with "utter contempt", and said services were being "stripped" from vulnerable added: "I took early retirement eight years ago when my wife was ill with cancer, she passed away, I'm his only carer now."If he was to lose his place, and his transport of course, I don't know what I would do." Inez Kirk, Aberdeenshire branch secretary of the public services union Unison, said staff cared "deeply" about communities and the services they said: "Staff are absolutely heartbroken, angry, fed up."Communities are losing a valuable resource, and people are losing their jobs and careers, and seeing the work they have dedicated their lives to being undervalued."I know budgets are bad, but I would like people to work with the staff and find ways to go forward, save money, do things better." Families were given assurances adults with learning disabilities would not have their services removed until alternative provision could be the meeting, Aberdeenshire IJB chairman John Tomlinson said the gap between how much services cost and the money available to deliver them needed to be closed "urgently".He said: "We have heard several speakers describe the fears they have about how the decisions we have made today may impact on them and their loved ones. "None of us take this responsibility lightly, there has been some sober and reflective discussions in the room today and we are assured that officers will proceed with sensitivity and compassion as we make the changes we must."Mr Tomlinson added: "Unfortunately, the fundamental fact is that we must make savings now, if we do not, we risk the financial stability of our funding partners and the knock-on impacts that would have on wider public services across Aberdeenshire."
Press and Journal
22-05-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Fraserburgh amputee: 'Closing Can-Do centre robs me of reason to get up in the morning'
Gordon Thomson started helping out at the Can-Do recycling project in Fraserburgh nearly 20 years ago. Volunteering there has been a big part of his life, keeping himself busy by spending three days a week sorting out the metal into different piles. When he heard it was closing down, he 'couldn't even move' and remained in bed for the whole day contemplating a future without it. Gordon is just one of several disabled north-east residents and their families battling plans to axe eight disability daycare projects across Aberdeenshire. And this week, they turned out in force at the Broch's Robertson Road centre to make their feelings known. Gordon was just one of the crestfallen protestors we spoke to… The Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) is ploughing ahead with major changes in a bid to save £17 million. And the axe could fall on these beloved services within days, with a crunch meeting next Wednesday. Under the new plans, the Robertson Road Centre in Fraserburgh would be retained as the 'main hub' in the north of the county. Banff Day Services and Buchan Day Opportunities would be kept alongside this. However the Can-Do Recycling base and shop in Fraserburgh and Connecting the Broch could be scrapped, among others in the region. I meet Gordon as he brandishes a placard outside the Westshore Industrial Estate building. He has been attending Can-Do in Fraserburgh for around 17 years. The announcement that Can-Do was at threat of being axed filled him with dread. He explained: 'These two lassies came in and told me, they said 'sorry to tell you but we've got to stop'. 'I'm still there yet, but I haven't got a clue what is happening there and I don't know when it will end.' Gordon said the revelation made him feel 'very, very sad'. He added: 'It really hurt me… It will be a big miss to me whenever it happens.' Gordon revealed the news of his beloved project being at risk of closing came as a big shock, so much so that he didn't leave his bed the next day. 'I couldn't even move, my carer wondered what was happening because she was phoning me up,' he told me. 'When she came in, I eventually told her and it just started me up again…' Gordon admits he finds working with the shop side of it 'boring', but he loves organising the recycling into their designated buckets – and all of the separation is done by hand. The site also deals with large oil cans collected from restaurants. Once everything is in the right place, it is bailed up and taken away. Users and volunteers then clean the buckets ready for the next day. 'The best thing is when it comes to half past two and you go, 'Yee-ha!' because it's time to go,' Gordon says with a chuckle. Mindful of the site he has come to love, he can't help wonder what will become of it. 'I'd like to know what is going to happen with the shop and what they are going to do with all the stuff that's inside it – it's a busy place.' Julie Buchan volunteers at Can-Do and works alongside 'hard worker' Gordon. It's clear the two have struck up a close bond. 'Gordon is just the bones of the place,' she tells me with admiration. 'He knows all of the work and helps others – he helped me as a volunteer.' Gordon instantly fires back: 'I keep her right. We are the A-Team because we don't muck about, we just get going.' Julie started volunteering at Can-Do a couple of years ago and admits she didn't realise how much work went on there. 'They provide donated affordable furniture, household items, bikes and beds for people that need it,' she adds. 'The recycling element of it is widespread because the collection trucks go out to Banff, Macduff, Mintlaw, right round to Fyvie. 'If Can-Do is not collecting all of the recycling, where is all of that stuff going to go?' Plans have been made for Gordon to attend the Men's Shed instead, however a recent visit left him feeling disappointed as he struggled to access the site with his wheelchair. Anne-Marie Lawrence is among the crowd too. Her 19-year-old son Dylan has been attending Robertson Road for just over a year but he also visits the recycling project two days a week. The proud mum said: 'He loves Can-Do, he likes getting out in the truck.' Julie attests to this, chipping in: 'He gets stuck right in and shovels the tins away.' However, Anne-Marie tells me Dylan's future care arrangements still hang in the balance. 'I've not had confirmation in writing but I got a text message to say not to worry about Dylan, he would still meet the criteria,' she tells me. 'When I had my meeting for my son, they asked how I would feel about travelling to Inverurie. 'I told them I didn't have time to travel across the north-east, I've got my own job to go to – they just don't think.' As well as services like Can-Do closing, tighter rules on who is eligible for care are being rolled out. It could mean certain people are entitled to less than they have become used to. And another mum eager to share her story is Alison Duthie. Her 19-year-old son Christopher, who takes seizures, has epilepsy and severe learning disabilities, has been attending the Robertson Road centre for almost a year. Christopher visits the centre four days per week, but this could be cut down to just three. 'We get 22 hours just now,' Alison said. 'If we don't get that and there's nothing to entertain Christopher in the Broch, it would affect his mental health and mine as well. 'You fight tooth and nail for your bairns, and because they are disabled they've got a raw deal – it's heartbreaking.' I then meet Denise Macdonald and her sister-in-law Ellie Fairclough. Denise took on the role of being Ellie's personal assistant but sees Ellie as a daughter. The 28-year-old has Down's syndrome and a weak heart, and is monitored regularly because of this. Ellie attends Robertson Road five days a week and loves going there to hang out with her friends. The family have been told that going forward, Ellie will qualify for two or three days maximum – and this is causing concern. 'What's going to happen to Ellie for the two or three days she's not at the centre? My partner works full-time so who is going to watch Ellie? 'Ellie can't go on the bus, she has no concept of what money is and she wouldn't know when to get off… She needs to be with an adult 24/7. Denise explains that Ellie doesn't understand what is going on at the moment and won't take the reduction in days well as she hates change. 'She might think she did something wrong,' Denise worries. Aberdeenshire health chiefs carried out studies on each of the services at risk, determining how adversely their closure could affect vulnerable people. They say the 'majority' of people who attend Can-Do are 'not eligible' for in-house daycare services and will 'be offered an alternative' within the community. The report states: 'Learning disability teams are skilled in supporting transitions with service users/families /carers and will work with them to support people into new or alternative services. 'Traditionally services like Fraserburgh Can-Do Recycling and Shop were supporting less complex people with learning disabilities.'
The Courier
22-04-2025
- Health
- The Courier
Forfar minor injury unit facing axe in Angus centralisation plan
Forfar's minor injury and illness unit is facing closure in a shake-up of Angus-wide services. The Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre facility is one of two remaining district MIIUs. But it is now under threat after health chiefs identified a centralised Angus service at Arbroath Infirmary as their preferred option in a major service redesign. They say the new plans would bring enhanced Community Treatment and Care (CTAC) services for long-term conditions, wound care and blood sampling across the district. However, the return of an MIIU to Montrose – closed in 2022 – has been ruled out. The centralisation option follows an initial round of public consultation over Angus-wide MIIU services. In February, Angus integration joint board (IJB) considered a strategic vision report on MIIU provision. It agreed to an initial round of public consultation. A survey presented four options: There were almost 2,200 responses. One of the main themes was in relation to extended opening times. Angus Health and Social Care Partnership say that over a seven-day average, 21 people a day require MIIU treatment at either Forfar or Arbroath. Most have a limb injury that is likely to need an X-ray. And on average a person goes to MIIU once every 10 years. A new survey has now been launched to gauge opinion on the preferred option. AHSCP says it will look at whether the centralised Arbroath MIIU and enhanced CTAC plan is workable and meets local needs. It rejected the idea the changes are all about saving money. 'The proposed review is clinically driven and aims to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care,' said AHSCP. 'Enhanced collaboration between minor injury and CTAC services aims to optimise the use of resources and ensure the long-term sustainability of services.' A final decision on the changes is expected to be made by Angus IJB in June.
