Frank’s Law funding has been scrapped in South Ayrshire only three months after legislation to extend free care to under-65’s was passed.
The council and NHS run Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) cut £315,000 set aside in its budget for the new law following a financial crisis.
On April 1 the Scottish Government abolished care charges for those aged under 65 living with disabilities and other conditions following a petition.
But the South Ayrshire Integration Joint Board, which oversees the HSCP, decided to ‘remove’ Frank’s Law funding, to balance books on Friday.
Councillor Hugh Hunter, who sits on the Integration Joint Board, said: “These are unpleasant and unpalatable decisions but we need to produce a balanced budget. Financial regulations demanded that.”
Frank’s Law came about following a six-year campaign from footballer Frank Kopel’s widow Amanda. Mr Kopel was diagnosed with dementia aged 59 and had to pay for care.
Alongside Frank’s Law, £450,000 investment in Care at Home Packages has been chopped by the IJB. NHS Ayrshire & Arran chief executive John Burns has expressed concern about the impact of the cut. And the budget for learning disability packages was reduced by £54,000.
The financial chaos has stemmed from the HSCP racking up £3.27 million debt last year. A large number of cuts have already taken place.
South Ayrshire Council had to wade in with a loan to cover a shortfall. The IJB asked the council could it defer making the first repayment this year but the majority of councillors refused to discuss the matter. That triggered a rush to find last minute £819,000 cuts, which included Frank’s Law.
Councillor Hunter said: “We were forced into this by the South Ayrshire Council administration refusing to consider the request for re-profiling.”
IJB chair Councillor Brian McGinley said: “I do understand that the IJB cannot keep asking the council to bail them out as both partners have their own resource restrictions to manage.
“Change has to be delivered within existing resources at a time when resources are limited and demand is going through the roof. This is a very tall order and we will need active and continuous support from the council and the health board to make this happen.”
The £224 million health and social care service was breaching financial rules because it had no approved budget before Friday.
Councillor Hunter branded it “shameful” and said staff had to deliver services with no idea what their budget was.
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