Trade union says politicians failing to grasp urgency of funding crisis
Unite today (26 February) said that ‘irreversible cuts’ are inevitable in health and social care services across Scotland without urgent investment in response to an Accounts Commission report.
The Accounts Commission published report on the finances of Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) highlights there is insufficient finances to meet rising costs and demands in health and social care with many boards using reserves to address an almost £450 million gap between demand and available funding. 
Unite has received evidence from its health reps across Scotland that cuts to services by IJBs is underway due to the lack of financial resources highlighted in the report. The union represents thousands of NHS and social care workers in care homes, estates, porters, the ambulance service, medical equipment management, scientists and theatre roles.  
  
Sharon Graham Unite general secretary said: “Unite has demanded decisive action by the Scottish government to provide the finances necessary to deliver sustainable health and social care services.
 
“The Accounts Commission report starkly spells out that deep cuts are already underway.”
 
Audit Scotland and the Accounts Commission also recently reported in January that one in nine hospital beds were occupied because of delayed discharges in the 12 months to April 2025. According to Unite a significant proportion of the £440m spent by NHS Scotland could have been avoided and redirected towards more effective patient support packages if social care services in Scotland were properly and adequately funded.  
James O’Connell, Unite lead officer for NHS workers in Scotland, said:  “Workers on the frontline have been clearly saying for years that they are at breaking point due to cuts, understaffing, rising demand and the growing complexity of services required for users.”
Unite is calling for sectoral bargaining to deliver a sustainable framework for social care services, and better jobs, pay and conditions for social care workers. The social care budget is estimated to fall short of the £750 million investment figure required according to COSLA.
Shauna Wright, Unite lead officer for social care in Scotland said: “The Scottish government might have given some extra money which can be used by local government to fund the real living wage for social care workers. That doesn’t come close to meeting our demand of pay parity for all social care workers.
"Massive levels of investment are needed but the Scottish government continue to offer scraps from the budget table. The sector is in crisis.”
ENDS 
Notes to editors 
Last September, Unite launched a nationwide campaign putting the demands of social care workers at the centre of the solutions needed to fix the crisis impacting the sector.
The union represents thousands of social care workers in the private, not-for-profit, and public sector who are facing an uncertain future due to the lack of investment in service provision. 
For media enquiries contact: Andrew Brady on 07810 157922 or andrew.brady@unitetheunion.org  Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members.