A HEALTH and social care service is about to blow its budget again after overspending for three years in a row.
The North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) is expected to be in the red by £1.77 million this year. It has already racked up debts of more than £5.8 million, which must be repaid to North Ayrshire Council.
Spiralling costs for care home placements among other services are putting finances under pressure. North Ayrshire HSCP director Stephen Brown said the overspend was caused by “demand for services outweighing available resources.”
He pointed to care home placements, respite provision, looked after children, learning disability care packages and mental health services.
He added: “The partnership faces challenges to deliver more services to more people and the available funding is not keeping pace.”
Cllr Robert Foster said: “It is up to us to balance the books. We are confident we will get it down to a manageable level.”
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