Fears over West Dunbartonshire social work integration

VITAL services could be lost in West Dunbartonshire if the council and health board integrate, it has been claimed. Councillor Jim Bollan expressed concerns over the plan to merge West Dunbartonshire Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s social work and health services.

The matter was discussed at a council meeting last Wednesday night when councillors voted in favour of integrating with the health board.

But Councillor Bollan, who gained the support of three other councillors, is worried that money jointly invested by the local authority and the health board would not be re-invested in this area.

He said: “I remember being in these chambers when NHS officers came here to answer questions on our concerns about the Vale Hospital.

“The health board for this area was sent into Greater Glasgow and resources were being spent on urban areas of Glasgow and big estates in Glasgow.

“That’s why the Vale Hospital is now a clinic.

“West Dunbartonshire has seen little or no investment in the health services.

“What we are seeing here is another attempt to do exactly the same with our social work services.

“We will again become the country cousins. Our services, I believe, will be affected.”

SNP Councillor Jonathan McColl, the council’s social work convener, tabled the motion to move forward with integrating further with the NHS.

Councillors agreed there should be changes made to the motion to ensure the council was well represented and that the Argyll, Bute and Dunbartonshires’ Criminal Justice panel remained without integration.

Councillor Ronnie McColl said: “This is an opportunity for the people of West Dunbartonshire to receive streamlined strategic services.

“West Dunbartonshire Council can’t possibly afford to deliver these services on its own especially when there are other similar services provided by other people.

“This is about aligning two organisations whose main job is caring for people.”

Andrew Robertson, chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board, told the meeting that similar plans had already been established elsewhere and that he was in support of the integration.

He said: “In the very difficult financial circumstances we are all in, it is important to protect frontline services.

“I believe that we can work together to develop detailed proposals which can be acceptable for both organisations.”

A shadow partnership will be formed in April between the NHS board and West Dunbartonshire.

This will be in place for at least six months in order to finalise how the new integrated body will work.