Less than half of planned health and care savings of £11.471 million set out in the quality and finance plan have been achieved.
With a sense of disappointment, the Integration Joint Board of Argyll and Bute HSCP agreed that anything deemed ‘not achievable in full’ be dropped, meaning an extra £3.898 million of savings will need to be found in 2019/20. In an effort to bridge the budget gap, the IJB had requested revised savings options be brought to the current meeting.
This did not happen, and Kirsty Flanagan, interim chief financial off cer, explained: ‘off cers have been working on a series of savings options, but they are not at the stage to be brought forward to the board. I think it is vitally important they are tested by the senior leadership team and there has really been insufficient time to do that with the Christmas period and all the meetings that have been taking place linked to NHS Highland’s financial position.’ Instead, the savings options will be brought to the quality and finance programme board on Wednesday February 20 before being presented to the full IJB on Wednesday March 27.