Around 200 elderly people in the Argyll and Bute Council area are not receiving personal care, which is their legal right, it has emerged. Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said that the council's attitude was appalling and asked for social workers to investigate.
Argyll and Bute Council said it had 'nothing to fear'. Douglas Hendry, director of community services agreed that there were about 200 eligible people not receiving care, 'The council's position is the level of demand for those services has increased at a rate greater than the increased level of funding coming in,' he said. 'All the money allocated for social work is put to those purposes.'Ms Baillie, Labour MSP for Dumbarton was not placated with these words, 'My view is the money isn't being spent as the Scottish Executive has allocated it. You cannot have elderly people left in a situation where their care needs are not being met.'
Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said that there would be improvements in the situation, 'The executive's joint improvement team is helping Argyll and Bute Council. The team's work is being done because all concerned recognize that there is significant room for improvement. I expect the outcome of that work to be an improvement in the services that are delivered.'
