Almost half of West Dunbartonshire GP support staff axed as union brands move 'a farce'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The number of surgery support staff working across West Dunbartonshire’s GP surgeries is to be cut from nine down to five as the region’s Health and Social Care Partnership cuts jobs due to “considerable financial challenges”.West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (West Dunbartonshire HSCP) is to slash the service, with one workers’ union branding the move “a farce” and the national third sector intermediary, The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (The ALLIANCE), which currently employs the nine Community Links Workers described it as “deeply concerning”.The Community Links Workers (CLW), work alongside GPs in surgeries to deliver dedicated support with non-medical problems impacting on patients’ health, such as debt, housing, loneliness, food and fuel poverty, and abuse.The service is at risk as a report being considered by the HSCP suggests cuts to surgery workers are needed to deliver half of the £320,000 savings required to balance the books this year.GMB Scotland, the union representing the staff, accused the HSCP of notifying GPs of the cuts before informing the CLWs that their jobs are to be made redundant.A spokesperson for West Dunbartonshire HSCP this week said: “As is the case for healthcare services across the country, West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership is facing considerable financial challenges.“The HSCP fully understands the importance of the Community Link Worker programme and the positive impact it has had on both patients and healthcare providers.

Click here for more news and sport from West Dunbartonshire. “We would like to thank all those involved in the service for their hard work and commitment.“West Dunbartonshire HSCP and The ALLIANCE are engaged in