A long-term strategy and more resources are needed to support the planned integration of health and social care services in Scotland, finance experts have warned.
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) integration group says there is not enough funding available to bring the services together after implementation of the living wage and other commitments.
The funding gap is made worse by the reduction of local authority and health settlements and pressure to deliver savings according to the group, comprised of Scottish integration authority chief finance officers.
In a submission to the Scottish Parliament health and sport committee, it says the Holyrood government needs to establish a long-term financial strategy to support the integration agenda.
Sharon Wearing, chair of the CIPFA integration joint board chief finance officers section, said: 'With emerging evidence of current budget deficits of integrated authorities between 3% and 14%, there is a careful balance to be struck between the level resources necessary to manage current demand while planning for system redesign.
'It is of crucial importance that there is integration, however it needs to be properly planned for to ensure the sustainability of services.'
