THE budget gap facing health and social care services in Argyll and Bute has more than doubled in the first three months of the new financial year, according to a report.

The Argyll and Bute integrated joint board (IJB), which oversees the work of the area's health and social care partnership, was told last week that an outstanding budget gap of £2 million in April had increased by a further £3m by the end of June.

Chief financial officer Caroline Whyte told the IJB's members that a financial recovery plan would be brought to the board for approval in September.

According to a briefing note published by the board this week, Ms Whyte told the board: “The IJB started 2017-18 with an outstanding budget gap of £2m with the intention of managing this through a reduction in the service level agreement for acute health services negotiated with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and with the remaining balance being delivered through in-year efficiency savings.

“This position has deteriorated by a further £3m in the first quarter of the financial year due to ongoing overspends for locums and agency staff, continuations of overspends in social care services and the expectation that not all of the service changes in the Quality and Finance Plan will be delivered.”

The projected overspend for the current financial year now stands at £5m.