Moray Integration Joint Board agrees series of cuts to address multi-million pound budget shortfall
Moray health bosses have today agreed upon a series of budget cuts to address a revised £10.5 million shortfall.
Earlier this week, Judith Proctor, chief officer of the Moray Integration Joint Board (IJB), said there were “no easy choices left” to address a then-estimated £12.2 million budget shortfall.
The board was being asked to consider new savings proposals including redesigning palliative care, self-directed support payments, improving prescribing efficiencies, reducing staff overtime and vacancy management.
Those proposals, alongside a 3.4 per cent budget reduction to all services not already subject to cuts, have now been approved by the board.
They will be fully implemented in 2025/26 alongside previously agreed savings proposals such as redesigning internal care services, mental health and out-of-hours services, community hospitals, and respite care.
Dennis Robertson, chair of the Moray IJB, said: “Reaching a balanced budget in such a challenging financial climate has been extremely difficult.
“It is with the greatest consideration that these difficult decisions have had to be made to ensure our resources are focused on protecting frontline services as much as possible.
“We must take a responsible approach to long term financial sustainability to ensure the continued delivery of the best possible integrated health and social care services for the people of Moray, now and into the future.”
The approved revenue budget of £214m incorporates a £9.5m savings plan .
Additionally, £1m from earmarked reserves has been allocated to help stabilise finances.
Delivery of the savings programme will be closely monitored and reported regularly to the IJB.
