Ensuring that elderly and vulnerable people receive sufficient care at home should be a priority for the local authority, a councillor has insisted.
Willie Scobie, who represents the Stranraer and the Rhins ward, said senior NHS figures confirmed there were 3,500 hours of unmet care in the community due to staff shortages.
Speaking at the council’s response, renewal and recovery meeting recently, Councillor Scobie raised concerns about the number of people who may be isolated and not receiving enough support this winter.
He said: “We should seek a report on the full detail on the 3,500 hours of unmet care needs, and also for that report to give us some indication as to how many people could be affected and not received the home care that they do need.”
The NHS is struggling with a staff shortage and are asking families of hospital in-patients to provide “whatever support they can” to allow them to be discharged quickly to tackle a crisis over delayed discharge. However, health and social care services are also facing significant problems recruiting enough care workers to provide support for people in their homes.
Councillor Scobie said: “Care workers are crucial. It at least mitigates against people going into hospital.
“But if we’re not getting the care workers out to these people at home, then there’s a high probability they’ll end up in hospital.
“So, how many vacancies do we have for care workers? Does this come near to the 3,500 hours that are needed in Dumfries and Galloway?”
Richard Grieveson, the council’s chief officer for response, renewal and recovery, explained that care at home provision in the region is a “real complex landscape” because services are delivered by the council, health board, private and third sector organisations.
Each body has staff shortages and are trying desperately to find care at home workers.
The council officer said: “In terms of the council’s own internal care and support services, there was a total of 340 hours vacant – which equated to approximately 14 staff because most of the common contracts are 25 hours per week.
“The recruitment campaign, alongside existing advertising, has now resulted in 103 applicants.”
The council had appointed 10 new care workers, as of last week, with a further 22 potential candidates still being processed.
He explained that this will provide nearly 800 hours of additional care worker support, helping to plug the gap in the community.
Richard Grieveson agreed to speak with colleagues in the social work department to produce a report with more details on how many people in the community are losing out on care at home support.
