SUGGESTIONS have been made to create a special project funding pot for the council’s health watchdog after its grant was cut by 10 per cent.

Earlier this month, Healthwatch Wokingham, an organisation commissioned by the council to oversee standards in social care in the borough, sent a report to the council claiming it could “offer so much more” after it saw its funding shrink to below £100,000.

The cut means it can now only do a “deep dive” on one health-based project rather than five in previous years.

Jim Stockley, Healthwatch Wokingham representative, welcomed the idea of a project funding pot after councillor Ken Miall had suggested it at a council meeting in January and again on Wednesday (March 6).

Telling councillors about the impact of the cut, Mr Stockley said: “I think the opportunities to follow up on things that are a genuine interest to this community, certainly in terms of adult social care, and to be that advocate, while not making a shilling from any other organisation, our ability to continue like that is going to be severely restricted.

“We may not be able to do as much as future.

“To me as an individual, it seems a shame that with a growing population and an ageing population, that our organisation isn’t able to fulfil as many tasks as we would like to.”

Angela Morris, Director of adult services at Wokingham Borough Council (WBC), said the funding pot is something the authority could look at with Optalis, the council’s social care provider, going forward.

She also told councillors that funding for Healthwatch organisations across the country has fallen by 17 per cent in the last year, but added that the council does “absolutely value the service that you (Healthwatch) deliver.”

In addition to the watchdog’s ability to do fewer “deep dive” research projects focusing on key healthcare concerns in Wokingham borough, Mr Stockley also said the organisation would not be able to advertise and promote itself with a budget that has shrunk from £107,000 to £98,000.

He added that Healthwatch has had to scrap its volunteer coordinator role despite its reliance on people willing to give up their free time to support the group with its research.

Labour councillor Andy Croy said: “It is a ludicrous system that we rely on volunteers. It is absolutely ridiculous.”

Earlier at the meeting, Angela Morris provided the council’s response to a Healthwatch case study which involved concerns about how WBC’s short-term assessment and the reablement team approached a mother and her son in need of support.

And last week Nicola Strudley, Healthwatch Wokingham manager, told The News: “From a Wokingham perspective, who is going to champion Wokingham people’s voices and make sure Wokingham’s services are being held to account?

“The reason we have put this report together is our budget is pretty small and I just worry that we won’t be able to do that (hold the authorities to account).”

Cllr Croy later added at the meeting: “Your ability to probe the local health environment is quite limited – there won’t be the same accountability you have been able to provide.”

Healthwatch was awarded the £98,000 a year contract this year following a “competitive re-bidding” process for the deal, and Mr Stockley was questioned as to why the watchdog bid for this amount.

He said: “We felt it was important we won this contract. We had too much invested. There was so much expertise built up that it was important this remained available.”

The impact of the funding cut was discussed by councillors at a meeting of WBC’s health overview and scrutiny committee (HOSC) on Wednesday, March 6.

Vice-chairman of the committee, Cllr Kate Haines, said before the meeting closed: “I think HOSC has appreciated everything you have done in the last six years.”