Press Statement – for immediate release
Date: 8th February 2024
Protest outside the EIJB meeting: 9am – 10.30am Friday 9th February – No Place for Profit in Care – assemble outside the City Chambers 253 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ
Why we are protesting
The Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) meets on 9th February. It’s nearly a year now since the Care Inspectorate published a devastating report on the existing state of the health and social care that is administered by board, and in that time it’s not clear that any of the problems identified by the report have been addressed. Care packages are being slashed, posts are being left unfilled and the workforce is being put under unbearable pressure.
The budget deficit continues to grow but it’s very hard to work out either the size of the shortfall or the consequences of the deficit from the documentation provided for the board meeting. However, we now understand that the board is forecasting an astonishing £67.6 million funding gap for 2024/25. Including further cuts to care packages of £15 million.
At this week’s meeting of the Council’s Finance and Resources Committee EIJB Chief Officer Pat Togher said in the context of the gap:
“The amount of money that needs to come out of the service this year will have a huge impact on the service. There will be a requirement to change behaviour and expectations and to reset the social contract with the citizens of Edinburgh. What people have experienced so far with care packages will change dramatically given the scale of what we have to save. It will be a serious struggle to deliver our statutory duties”.
Contact: Another Edinburgh is Possible
Email: edinburghjustrecovery@gmail.com
Phone: 07791913316
Web: https://anotheredinburghispossible.org
X: @anotheredinburg
Another Edinburgh is Possible 