FUNDING granted to councils for health and social care needs to be increased and services should remain “locally-led”, say East Renfrewshire councillors.

A National Care Service consultation was launched by the Scottish Government in August, following an independent review of adult social care.

East Renfrewshire Council has now drafted a response, which raises concerns about some of the proposed changes.

It welcomes more funding for health and social care, but believes giving the money to councils will bring improvements “more quickly and effectively”.

The draft has been put together following a cross-party meeting last month, and councillors will be asked to approve the response when they meet on Wednesday.

If agreed, East Renfrewshire Council will tell the government that it believes the best health and social care services need local leadership and democratic accountability underpinned by “coherent” national policy.

They should have a “relentless focus” on improving, a “well-trained, supported and valued” workforce and a “realistic and sustainable” funding model according to the council draft response. 

A National Care Service would cover social care services currently delegated by the council to the area’s integration joint board — a partnership between the council and the NHS.

It is proposed that the joint board would become a community health and social care board, which would be funded directly by the Scottish Government.

East Renfrewshire would welcome care being seen “as an investment in society, not a burden” but believes there is “nothing inherent to a nationally centralised governance model that will improve local outcomes in and of itself”.

It adds increasing funding to councils and health and social care partnerships will improve the situation more quickly and effectively.

An approved response will be submitted to the Scottish Government by November 2.