INVERCLYDE is facing more NHS cuts as £1.6 million is slashed from community health spending.

The director of the Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership confirmed the reduction in their allocation from Greater Glasgow and Clyde Board in next year’s budget.

Council leader Stephen McCabe, who raised the issue, hit out at the cuts as the joint integration board is forced to review services and look at ways to find more savings, 

It comes amid growing pressure on social care services locally and at a time when health board chiefs want to make cuts to maternity services at Inverclyde Royal.

The Tele recently reported that nine patients ready for discharge died in Inverclyde Royal while waiting for care packages to be put in place to allow them to go home.

At a health and social care committee meeting, director of health and social care Brian Moore, said: “We are looking at a reduction of £1.6 million in the Inverclyde Integration Board budget.

“We will bring a report forward looking at the next Inverclyde Joint Integration Board looking at services and staffing efficiencies we could make.”

Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe initially raised the issue at the committee meeting.

He added: “If health services are protected by the Scottish Government, and there is a commitment to provide £500 million in Scotland, why are we being asked to make £1.6 million pound cuts to community health services in Inverclyde?”

Mr Moore, who retires next month, recently warned of the difficulties they face in integrating health and social at time of funding cuts.

He said that the current model of funding was unsustainable in the face of growing demands in social care, but stressed that implementing changes at a time of cutbacks had proved challenging.

Inverclyde has an ageing population putting increasing pressure on social care services.

The introduction of the joint board was designed to improve social care services and prevent hospital stays, with a view to moving funding to areas it is most needed.

Community health has already been hit, with cuts to podiatry services locally.

The Tele reported that under new guidelines, staff no longer routinely provide a toenail cutting service to patients with health conditions like diabetes. Instead they now have pay for it privately.