Health and social care chiefs in Glasgow have issued a plea for more money after an audit raised concerns over financial sustainability, with a £116m funding gap over three years. Cllr Chris Cunningham, SNP, said auditors had raised “legitimate and understandable” concerns about the future of the city’s Integration Joint Board (IJB). His motion, backed by a majority of board members, calls for “adequate funding” from the IJB’s two partners: Glasgow City Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
The board — made up of members from the council and NHS — directs community health and social services for children, adults and older people as well as homelessness and criminal justice services. A budget deficit of £116m for the three years to 2026/27 has been reported, which included a £36m gap this year (2024/25). Cuts to deal with the shortfall were agreed in March.
An annual audit report, from accounting firm Ernst & Young, for the year ending March 31, 2024, ranked the board’s financial sustainability as ‘red’ on its red, amber, green system. It stated the IJB’s financial strategy “outlines an increasing financial challenge” and general reserves were “significantly depleted in 2023/24, as a result of planned use of £17.2m.
.. alongside a further operational overspend of £1.
6m”. The report added reserves have “fallen to £8.4m, or 0.
5% of net expenditure, against the board’s target of 2%”. “The IJB has plans in place to rebuild reserves.