Ben Macpherson and Deirdre Brock pledge their support to PCHP

Two local SNP parliamentarians have added their voices to the campaign to save Pilton Community Health Project.

PCHP faces potential closure if Edinburgh’s Integrated Joint Board rubber stamps recommendations to end funding for Scotland’s oldest community health organisation at their meeting on Friday.

Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson (above) wrote to Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership Chief Officer Judith Proctor:

Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP)

I refer to the agenda for the meeting of the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board (IJB) on Friday 14 December 2018: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/meetings/committee/1031/edinburgh_integration_joint_board.

As you will be aware, Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP) in my constituency has been unsuccessful in its bid to the IJB for renewal of ongoing funding of £219,309; £173,034 being the main bid and £46,275, the physical activity bid. 

PCHP have raised their serious concerns about this, as this funding was to cover core costs and specific projects.  PYCP have stated that the projects set to lose funding tackle social isolation and health inequalities, and include:

• youth counselling;
• support for vulnerable women;
• physical activity; and
• cookery sessions.

With a timeframe of just over 3 months until the end of the current funding, the recent decision by the IJB gives PCHP very little time to seek alternative funding. I believe this is unfair and unacceptable.

As you will know, PCHP has received Council and NHS funding for 30 years.  Its annual reviews have consistently shown that targets have been met or exceeded.  I am very concerned about the impact this funding withdrawal will have on staff, as well as the service users.  PCHP employs 35 staff and has 40 volunteers at present. 

I find it unsettling that PCHP received just seven days’ notice of this decision and have not been given any explanation of the reasons behind it.

Furthermore, I believe that the IJB have no plans to replace these services locally, despite the high demand.  PCHP have advised me that they have waiting lists at present.  I am concerned about the impact the closure of these projects will have on the sustainability and continuation of PCHP as a whole, and the resultant impact this would have on the public sector and other third sectors services in the area such as GPs, mental health services, hospitals and the police.  This is one of the most deprived parts of my constituency and I know the loss of PCHP’s services would be keenly felt by those who use their services and need assistance. 

I wonder if you could provide clarification on the rationale and evidence behind the IJB’s funding decision and indicate how you see the potential closure of PCHP impacting on service users within my constituency?

I am grateful for the IJB’s support for Pilton Equalities Project (PEP), Fresh Start and Granton Information Centre (GIC) but am very concerned about the impact of such significant reductions to the Pilton Community Health Project’s core funding and the timescales associated with this.

I would be grateful if you and the wider IJB could urgently re-consider your decisions in relation to PCHP, and the impact these decisions would have, in advance of the IJB’s meeting on Friday?

I have copied this letter to PCHP, Councillor Ricky Henderson (Convener of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (Health and Social Care Partnership)), Forth Ward Councillors, Deidre Brock MP and the Chairman and Chief Executives’ Office of NHS Lothian.

Many thanks in advance for a swift response and your consideration of the matters raised above.

Ben 

North and Leith MP Deirdre Brock (above) has also outlined her concerns in a letter to Councillor Ricky Henderson, Chair of the Integrated Joint Board:

Ricky, 

I fully endorse everything that Ben has said in his email and his letter; I think that the very short timescale for this decision does not lend itself to good governance and would almost certainly result in the closure of a number of very good projects, PCHP being one of them. 

I would also point out that the work done by PCHP supports and balances the work of NHS Lothian and of the Health and Social Care Department and any diminution or elimination of the services provided by PCHP will necessarily place a greater burden on the services provided by the council and the NHS so no saving will be made. 

Downgrading the PCHP will also adversely affect community cohesion in one of the less affluent parts of the city and may lead to a series of unintended and as yet unknowable consequences. 

Having read the report and noted the criteria under which grants have been awarded I am at a loss to understand how PCHP’s scoring could have resulted in a complete loss of grant aid and would urge you and other members of the Board to reject the proposals and have the issue looked at afresh.  I’ve copied in everyone who was copied into Ben’s email. 

Deidre

The Integrated Joint Board meets on Friday morning at 10am in the City Chambers. Pilton Community Health Project has requested a deputation to argue their case at the meeting.

Thirty-five projects across the city were unsuccessful in their funding applications – and some of those who were successful have nevertheless been severely cut.

North Edinburgh’s voluntary and community sector are holding an emergency meeting to discuss the funding recommendations this morning at granton:hub (Madelvic House) at 10am.