HEALTH bosses have pledged to use an injection of funding wisely and locally.

With recent reports revealing worrying figures regarding waiting times and highlighting other issues, the £11.5million earmarked for NHS Ayrshire and Arran is much needed.

Director of Finance at the health board, Derek Lindsay, said: “We welcome this funding uplift from Scottish Government.

“More than two thirds of the funding uplift is prescribed to go to our three local Health and Social Care Partnerships to meet social care pressures.

“We will continue to operate our services as efficiently as possible which ensures that our funding is invested appropriately to provide the best possible care for the people of Ayrshire and Arran.”

Extra funding will also support a revamp of services to cope with the challenges of an ageing population by allowing local health and social care partnerships to ensure people have the right care, in the right place and at the right time.

In Cumnock and Doon Valley, NHS Ayrshire and Arran and East Ayrshire Council are working together, through an established Integration Joint Board, which brings together community health and social care services.

Ayrshire and Arran’s increase includes an additional £1.5 million to bring the board within one per cent of parity with the NHS funding formula.

Health Secretary, Shona Robison said: “This settlement represents a substantial additional investment in health services for the people of Ayrshire and Arran. It reflects the Scottish Government’s commitment to continue to support our NHS with record levels of investment.

“However, I am also clear that this investment must be accompanied with service reform. We recognise that our growing elderly population means that we need to shift the focus of care towards the community, and that is what we’ll continue to do.

“It is nearly one year since we integrated health and social care across Scotland. This reform will enable us to support more people to remain independent for as long as possible, and receive care in the community rather than in hospital.

“Over the coming months we will be working with all health boards to help them develop sustainable financial plans for this year and beyond. Together we will ensure that this investment delivers better care, better services and better value.”