Budget Agreed for Health and Social Care

The Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership Integration Joint Board (IJB) agreed its budget for the coming year at its meeting today (Wednesday 27 March).

A total of £301.2m will be spent on service delivery in 2024/25, an increase of £7.9m on last year’s figure. The biggest portion of the budget will be spent on community-based health services and adult social care. This figure includes £110.3m from Dundee City Council and £190.9m from NHS Tayside, which is still to be confirmed.

The allocation for the year ahead includes additional funding from the Scottish Government to deliver a £12.00 per hour minimum pay settlement for adult social care workers in commissioned services, in line with the Real Living Wage Foundation rate. More than £10m of savings were made in this year’s budget, in a range of areas including a reduction in care home places, which reflects a shift in policy to more care at home services and subsequent decline in demand for places.

Councillor Ken Lynn, Dundee City Council’s lead spokesperson for health and social care and vice chair of the IJB said: “This budget sets out to protect front line services at this challenging time.

“Despite the difficult financial position, we have been able to do some great things to really make a difference to the people of Dundee. I am particularly proud that we have opened Hope Point, the Community Wellbeing Centre, and it’s great to see the positive difference this is having on people’s lives.

“We have also received money from the Scottish Government to ensure that our external social care provider staff will get an increased hourly wage. From April 1 this year, they will receive a minimum of £12 per hour.”