Fears over merging of care services in West Dunbartonshire

CONCERN has been raised that integrating council social work and social care services with the health board will be detrimental to West Dunbartonshire.

Councillor Jim Bollan expressed his worry over the plan to merge the two organisations in their provision of these two services, which was approved at last week’s council meeting.

The West Dunbartonshire community health and care partnership will now be formed, bringing together social work and social are provided by the council and the existing community health partnership on behalf of the NHS board.

But Jim tabled an amendment asking the council to take no action.

He said: “The national service who we are going to form a partnership with is the same national health service that’s run the Vale of Leven Hospital down to a clinic.

“It is supposed to be a partnership but it’s an unequal partnership.”

Jim is worried that there will be six unelected members on the board for the new CHCP, which he claims makes it undemocratic.

Councillor George Black backed Jim’s amendment.

He said: “I am supporting Councillor Bollan’s amendment because we used to have a health service that was the envy of the world.

“In this area, we are now like a third world country.

“We have seen what health boards have done in this area.”

Councillor Ronnie McColl tabled the motion to give the go-ahead with the forming of the new partnership.

He said: “This is nothing to do with the Vale of Leven Hospital.

“The health board is happy that West Dunbartonshire Council chairs this partnership.

“If all else fails, we have a casting vote.

“There’s a will to make this work from all sides.

“I am confident that this will work.”