Concerns raised as waiting lists for care and support grow

The extent of unmet care needs has been set out in shocking detail in a set of reports put to the Integrated Joint Board for health and social care in June.
The reports reveal growing pressures in social care delivery, with 109 people seeking support still waiting for an initial assessment of their care needs, 11 of whom are in hospital waiting to be discharged, and a further 122 overdue a statutory review of their needs.
The number of people who have been assessed as needing care but have no delivery in place is 58.
These shortfall figures account for 477 hours of undelivered care each week, down from a peak of 731 hours per week in March. The report recognises that the figure for undelivered care would be considerably higher if it were to include those waiting to have their needs assessed: “Of particular concern is the hidden ‘need’ associated with those individuals requiring assessment. Until this gap is closed as a system we cannot truly understand the totality of unmet need.”
The figures come as a result of continuing resourcing issues in care, with 47 vacant posts within homecare and re-enablement alone, and a sickness absence rate well above the national average, running at up to 14.2% in some areas.
For those looking for support, the service shortfall can be catastrophic. Am Paipear spoke to one family carer who asked not to be named: “We are already at breaking point but have no option other than to carry on. Not having the care we need in place has left us depressed, exhausted and fearful for the future. We are desperate.”
Tagsa Uibhist delivers some of the allocated care hours through its dedicated care at home service. CEO Chris MacLullich explained the impact that the situation has on both his staff and clients:
“The staffing crisis in care is particularly acute in the islands where we face a desperate situation that is getting worse, month on month.
We have done what is in our power to recruit more staff; we have increased the rates of pay to well above the National Living Wage, increased our employer’s pension contribution to 5%, offered full time working hours, increased our mileage rate to £0.56, gained key worker status for incoming workers in partnership with the Hebridean Housing Partnership and we continue to offer training, and continuous professional development, from entry level to managerial level.”
“Our Managers are caught between a rock and a hard place – doing all that they can to respond to on-going and unmet needs for care whilst also trying to look after the wellbeing of our Care Assistants, who cover the length and breadth of Uist.”
“There is a real risk this crisis could deteriorate into a full blown emergency. In Tagsa and in other agencies such as the Western Isles Community Care Forum, we have huge concerns about the strain that unpaid carers are under with these levels of unmet need and waiting lists.”
The Disability Advocacy Collective (DAC), a campaigning support group for people needing care, has cautioned that shortfalls in service provision is having an impact on mental and physical health. Cathy Anne Dunn, Advocacy Western Isles Manager and DAC Facilitator, told Am Paipear: “DAC represents a number of people at the sharp end of the care crisis. Every undelivered hour of care means more pressure on family carers, who are already struggling. We know that care services are stretched and we recognise there is no quick fix, but we are heartened to have the support of Uist councillors, including Paul Steele, who pledged his commitment and support to DAC members when we met before the election.”
A Comhairle spokesperson said: “Health and Social Care is utilising the additional resources provided by Scottish Government to enhance frontline services. The first phase of increasing the social work team capacity is nearly complete and when all posts are operational this will assist in addressing the outstanding assessments. This has included an additional FTE post based in Uist and enhanced Team Leader capacity to support the frontline workers across the islands. The additional payments to care providers have been facilitated to enhance the renumeration of their workforces, supporting their endeavours to recruit and retain.”
“In addition, the Integration Joint Board has approved the development of new posts to support existing services. This was subject to a Report to the last meeting of the IJB. This investment will include services to supplement and extend the reach of existing services in relation to unscheduled care and hospital at home, as well as providing proactive support to sustain or retain independent living skills.”