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NAHSCP seeks further views on proposed changes
North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership (NAHSCP) recently ran a six-week consultation to gather the thoughts of residents, community groups, staff, and partner organisations on their priorities around how NAHSCP delivers social care services within budget.
As a follow-up to this consultation, residents are now being invited to take part in a short survey, where they can share their views on a number of proposed changes to social care services that are currently being considered. These combined changes are significant and will impact on the care people are offered currently and in the future.
Results from this additional survey will be analysed over the coming weeks, with a final report on findings from both this and the previous consultation being presented to North Ayrshire Integration Joint Board in mid-March for consideration when setting the budget for 2026-27.
NAHSCP is responsible for a wide range of community and hospital-based health and social care services for all ages. The partnership is currently facing significant financial pressures, with demand for services continuing to rise at an unprecedented rate. With the cost of providing these services also increasing - and funding not keeping pace with these additional challenges – NAHSCP is facing a budget deficit of around £14m in 2026-27.
Unfortunately, this means that some difficult decisions lie ahead as North Ayrshire Integration Joint Board works to balance the budget for the coming financial year. These challenges are being faced not only by NAHSCP, but by health and social care partnerships nationally. The proposals are as follows, and additional information on these can be found online.
Proposal 1: Changing Eligibility - Support only for people at critical risk:
Providing funded social care only to people assessed as being at critical risk - meaning someone is at immediate or imminent risk of serious harm, neglect, or losing the ability to live safely and independently. NAHSCP would no longer fund preventative or early help services for people with substantial, moderate or low needs, however they will still receive advice, information or signposting to community services.
Proposal 2: Best value care funding framework
When someone is assessed as needing care, there may be different ways to meet those needs. NAHSCP would fund the most cost-effective option that still meets the person’s assessed needs and outcomes. People will still have choice, but public funding would cover only the least costly option. If someone prefers a more expensive option, they can still choose it, but would need to top up or self fund.
Proposal 3: Prioritising personal care
Support would focus on essential personal care (such as help with washing, dressing, eating and staying safe). Non-personal care (such as domestic support, shopping, community access and social supports) would only be provided where not doing so would create a significant and immediate risk. Personal care becomes the priority for funding, with individuals able to self-fund additional non-essential supports if they wish. Any changes to current and future care packages would require an individual assessment of need to be undertaken.
Quote: This is not a position that we want to be in, and we understand that these proposals could negatively affect those who use our services, or may need to use our services in the future. It is important to us that everyone in North Ayrshire can have a say on the proposals, and we are particularly keen to hear your suggestions on how we can lessen the impact that these proposals could potentially have. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank you in advance for your feedback. Your views will be invaluable as we work towards ensuring support remains available for our most vulnerable residents.”
Quote from: Caroline Cameron, Director of North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership
Please take the survey online before the closing date of Wednesday 25 February.
If you require any additional support or a paper copy, please get in touch with StrategicPlanningHSCP@north-ayrshire.gov.uk. Paper copies are also available on request from all North Ayrshire libraries.
Staff at Carers Gateway North Ayrshire will be available to support unpaid carers to fill out the survey over the phone. You can call the Carers Gateway on 01294 311333.
Published: 12 February 2026