By Claire Warrender

A TERMINALLY ill cancer patient denied his wish to die at home because of a continuing funding crisis within Fife Council’s social work service is to have his case reviewed.

Iain McKilligan was given just six months to live after being diagnosed with bowel cancer five weeks ago and is desperate to spend his remaining time at home in Rosyth.

However, it looked as though he would be forced to remain in Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline after the council said they could not fund a suitable care package for him.

But in a surprising turnaround, senior social work manager John Alexander said yesterday a care package would be put in place as soon as possible, saying the service had just been made aware of Mr McKilligan’s prognosis.

The 58-year-old’s treatment was earlier branded despicable by Dunfermline East MSP Helen Eadie, who revealed there were dozens of other Fifers in a similar predicament, and she vowed to raise the matter with health secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

Mrs Eadie intervened on Mr McKilligan’s behalf last week and urged a review of his case. She also raised the issue in Parliament on Thursday.

Yesterday, she expressed delight at the change of heart but said she was disappointed it had taken her intervention.

While the outcome of Mr McKilligan’s case has proved satisfactory, his is just one of a number highlighted recently where the social work service’s financial struggle has hit vulnerable members of the public.

Others include a woman with multiple sclerosis having to stay in hospital despite being ready to return home, an elderly couple forced to live apart for the first time in almost 60 years until funding is found for a care home where they can be together and a 90-year-old blind man left without home help because of staff shortages.

The Courier revealed last month social work must find £4.6 million of savings this financial year—£600,000 of which will come from the home care service. Despite this, it is estimated the budget will still be £3.8 million in the red in March.

The problem is a national one and CoSLA has prepared a report for the Scottish Government highlighting some of the pressures.

In the meantime, Fife’s social work bosses have drawn up an action plan to find areas where containment measures can be made and, as part of that, all care packages will be reviewed.

Social work spokesman, Councillor Tim Brett, said, “More and more people are looking for a service so it’s important we have eligibility criteria so people can be assessed and continually assessed as there are examples where people are continuing to get a service when they no longer need it.

“We are doing our best to maintain services but over the next few months everybody’s care packages will be reviewed and it may be that some in the lowest category will no longer receive a service in order that we are able to cater for those in the highest category.

“However, I give an assurance that we will continue to provide care and support to those who are most in need.”

Labour social work spokesman Councillor Mark Hood said decisions were having a real impact on people.

“It’s about affording people a bit of dignity at a time in their lives when they are feeling a bit vulnerable,” he said.

“The worry for me is we are only hearing the cases people are coming to us with.”

Praising staff for their dedication, Mr Hood questioned the decision to cut £600,000 from the home care budget, and added, “At a time of increased demand for this service it seems impractical to expect staff who are already overstretched to cut back further.”

He is now considering asking Audit Scotland to investigate how social work is being run in the region.

Anyone affected by the cuts is urged to contact either Mr Hood on 01592 783462 or Helen Eadie on 01383 412856 to allow them to build up an accurate picture of the situation in Fife.