Social care lifelines imperilled by Capital’s joint board shenanigans - Bruce Whitehead
Yet more shenanigans at NHS Lothian, which controls funding of essential social care provided by charities.
Out of the blue the vice-chair of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board, Katharina Kasper has suddenly joined Lanarkshire's board. Normal practice would have been to replace her with the next-longest standing and experienced fellow member. That would be either EIJB co-founder George Gordon, or NHS data professional Peter Knight.
Unfortunately, last December they were both unexpectedly shunted from the EIJB to West & MidLothian respectively. But why, you might well ask.
Well, it also just so happens that the pair had consistently voted against savage spending cuts by the Labour/LibDem/Tory coalition to the health budget for prevention care.
These services specialise in for example providing drop-in listening and counselling - often dismissed as "soft services" - for distressed citizens.
These support lifelines help people with bipolar disorder, ex-offenders, refugees and travellers. They cost money, but are enormously effective. Trouble is the bean-counters can't see this.
I'm told the replacement vice-chair, Ralph Roberts has little knowledge of Edinburgh social care but is less likely to oppose cuts.
The MSP Angus Robertson is reported to be upset at the board manoeuvres, and Edinburgh Trades Union Council has also protested, concerned about the effects of cuts on its members working in the sector.
Sources say the two board members, who remain on the overall NHS Lothian Board, had opposed the "short-termism" and penny-pinching direction of the council officers spending cuts - usually presented as "savings".
Cllr Vicky Nicolson said: “It came as a great surprise to me to lose trusted colleagues so suddenly. I am sure it is simply a coincidence that they voted with me when I was trying to stop cuts to health and social care. The resulting change in personnel on the board has left me with concerns about the skill and experience gap this may lead to.”
I'm also told SNP ministers, facing re-election in weeks - are not pleased!