Frustrated families quizzed health chiefs on whether it is right that the “most vulnerable in society” face new social care charges, as £20 per hour care fees are planned in East Renfrewshire.

A proposal to roll-out charges for non-residential care — which could impact over 1000 residents — from April is facing opposition from parents and carers.

Over 850 people have signed a petition calling for the planned charges to be scrapped and families voiced their concerns at a consultation event at Barrhead Foundry on Monday, November 25.

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They were told East Renfrewshire’s health and social care partnership (HSCP) faces unprecedented financial pressures, with a budget gap of around £12m this financial year — and future shortfalls forecast too.

It is hoped the new charges would raise £1.5m. But one woman asked: “Is it right that the most vulnerable people in society are the ones that have to pay for that?

“These really are the most vulnerable people. A 92-year-old lady in the early stages of dementia, younger people with extremely complex needs.”

An official said responses from the consultation will feed into an equality, fairness and rights impact assessment, which will be presented to councillors before they make a decision. Charges would be based on the ability to pay, with financial assessments carried out.

The proposals will go before East Renfrewshire Council’s cabinet next Thursday (December 5). Non-residential care includes social supports, charges for meals, day opportunities and community-based services.

At a recent meeting of East Renfrewshire’s integration joint board (IJB) — which directs the HSCP — , Cllr Paul Edlin, Conservative, asked for the cabinet’s decision to be delayed to await the details of the Scottish Government’s budget announcement on December 4.

He said there is “possibly going to be an increased allocation of funding to local councils”. Health chiefs said any decision to postpone would need to be made by the cabinet. Council leader Owen O’Donnell, Labour, who chairs the cabinet, said a deferral would be considered.

Lesley Bairden, the HSCP’s chief financial officer, told IJB members there had been “some indications that there could be a funding pull through for Scotland” following the UK budget last month.

She added any “headline” changes would be known when the cabinet meets but the full details won’t be available until “December 12 at the earliest”.

At Barrhead Foundry, around 20 parents or carers attended the fifth of six consultations events organised by the HSCP.  Some felt the charges were being proposed at the wrong time, as a ‘supporting people framework’ — which means social care is only provided to those in “substantial or critical” need — was recently introduced.

One mum said her son’s care had been “cut to the absolute minimum”. “We are paying out more, we’re seeing less,” she added.

Concerns over communication were also raised as some parents or carers claimed they had not received letters while others said they had been sent to the person in need of care.

They were told some public engagement jobs had been lost as a result of voluntary redundancies brought on by the financial situation.

The Scottish Government also came in for criticism as it was accused of “wasting” £29m on developing a National Care Service.

A HSCP spokeswoman thanked everyone who has shared their views on the plan.

“We know this has not been easy and has been very emotional,” she added. “This is a difficult proposal, and one we spent many years avoiding putting forward.

“We also acknowledge the timeframe has not been ideal, but we have done everything we can to reflect the views of the 300+ people we have spoken to in the paper that will be put to cabinet to help inform their decision on December 5.”

Parents and carers were told the timeframe had been impacted by the general election in July.