Transferring care of the elderly to the NHS could be good for Fife, says independent councillor Andrew Rodger.
Councillor Rodger said the issue over funding to alleviate the region’s bed-blocking crisis could have been avoided if the responsibility for supplying care packages fell to just one organisation.
The Scottish Government yesterday announced plans to integrate health and social care services. Under its proposal, the NHS rather than social work, would organise care packages for those needing support after leaving hospital.
Fife Council and NHS Fife recently put on a united front when they each contributed £250,000 towards easing delayed discharges.
The agreement followed a row over who was responsible for providing the funding.
Mr Rodger said, “If one organisation had been dealing with it, it would have been sorted out long before then (December) … If people vote for you, they are holding you accountable and the health board needs that democratic accountability as well.
“That’s why they have brought in elected board members.””Seamless”Public health minister Shona Robison claimed the proposal would deliver a “seamless service.”
She said, “Evidence from partnerships in England shows more older people can get quicker care packages, cuts in delayed discharges, reduced length of stay in acute hospitals and fewer unplanned emergency admissions to hospital.”
NHS Fife said other means of delivering care would have to be explored given the region’s ageing population and budget.
A spokeswoman for the health board said, “In its announcement today on planned changes to the future delivery of health and social care services, the Scottish Government indicates the need to consult widely with stakeholders.
“NHS Fife welcomes the opportunity to re-examine how such services may be provided in the future and how this may build upon the already close working between staff of Fife Council and NHS Fife in the delivery of these services on the ground.
“With Fife’s 75-plus population due to increase by over 20% by 2014 and increase by over 64% by 2024 continuing to do what has always been done is neither sensible nor affordable.
“People today are telling us that their greatest wish is to live as independently as possible … This will require a radical change in approach.”
Fife is in line for nearly £4.9 million from the Scottish Government’s change fund.
The spokeswoman added, “A robust plan for the next three years on how to use this allocation will be submitted to the Health and Social Care Partnership at the end of February for agreement.”