What is the Dundee Integration Joint Board (IJB)?
The Dundee Integration Joint Board (IJB) is a group that includes local councillors, NHS board members, carers, people who use services, and representatives from the third sector and trade unions. They plan and oversee community health, social work, and social care services for adults. This means they decide what services are provided and how the budget is spent. Their goals and priorities are set out in the Plan for Excellence in Health and Social Care in Dundee 2023-2033.
The services planned by the IJB are delivered by the Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership. This partnership brings together Dundee City Council, NHS Tayside, and other organizations to provide community-based care for adults. Services include:
Adult and older people’s community social care services, for example support for people with drug and alcohol issues, people with a learning disability, residential care and care at home.
Community health services, for example community nursing, palliative care, mental health and learning disability services.
What is being proposed?
The number of people needing health and social care in Dundee is rising, and their needs are becoming more complex. At the same time, the IJB has had to save £58 million since 2016/17—over £10 million in 2024/25 and over £17 million in 2025/26. It’s getting harder to make these savings while keeping services at the same level. This challenge has been highlighted by Audit Scotland (report) and COSLA (call to action) .
All over Scotland, IJBs must find ways to spend less so they can meet the legal requirement to balance their budgets. In Dundee, this means the IJB can’t keep providing the same services in the same way. They need to find efficiencies, change how services work, and may have to do less overall. These are tough choices, and there are no easy options left that won’t affect people.
Although it is not yet known exactly how much money will be available for 2026/27, Dundee IJB expects it will need to save £12.6 million from its budget. Staff have looked at lots of ways to save money and suggested options they think would have the least negative impact. Nothing has been decided yet — the IJB wants to hear people’s views before making any final choices.
You can find more details about Dundee’s health and social care needs and the IJB’s budget at the end of the page.
What are the potential savings options being considered?
Some of the budget gap will be covered by making day‑to‑day operations more efficient. These changes save money without reducing the services people receive. Staff have identified £4.8 million of savings from these efficiencies, and are working to identify a further £1.1 million (bring total efficiencies to £5.9 million). A further £2.2 million will come from continuing changes to services that the IJB has already agreed for 2025/26. Another £0.6 million is expected from decisions made by other organisations, such as Dundee City Council’s charging policies. These figures will continue to be updated as the budget consultation process takes place.
This leaves £3.9 million of savings that are now out for consultation. These proposals involve changing how services are delivered and, in some cases, stopping services altogether. You can find more information about each option and why it is being considered at: Dundee IJB Budget Consultation - Resources.
Who is being consulted?
The IJB needs to understand how its savings options might affect people who use services and the wider community. This includes people living across Tayside, who access the services affected by savings proposals.
This is especially important for people with protected characteristics (such as age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation). However, everyone is encouraged to share their views in the consultation.
Members of the health and social care workforce, organisations affected by specific options, and other stakeholders, are also invited to participate.
How can I take part in the consultation?
The consultation is open from Tuesday, 03 February to Tuesday, 03 March 2026.
A survey can be completed online: Dundee Integration Joint Board (IJB) 2026/27 Budget Consultation . Please see our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the survey and how to take part.
A facilitation pack is available to support anyone who wants to respond on behalf of a group. This could be a group of people who all use the same service, a representative group based on a shared characteristic, interest or geography, or a team of staff working within a relevant service area. You can download the pack here: Dundee IJB Budget Consultation - Resources.
Members of the public, including people who use health and social care services and unpaid carers, can drop-in to a consultation session and speak to members of the Health and Social Care Partnership’s Senior Management Team:
Tuesday, 17 February 2026, 10:00-11:30 at Ardler Complex
Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 13:30-15:00 at Dundee Carers Centre
Thursday, 19 February 2026, 17:00-18:30 at the Mackinnon Centre
Tuesday, 24 February 2026, 17:00-18:30 at Boomerang Community Centre
Wednesday 25 February 2026, 15:00-16:30 at Menzieshill Community Hub
If you would like to take part and have specific communication needs, please contact the Health and Social Care Partnership on 438300 or dundeehscp@dundeecity.gov.uk in advance.
Information about consultation sessions for members of the health and social care workforce and providers of health and social care services will be sent to them directly.
Further information about the health and social care needs of Dundee’s citizens
Healthy life expectancy in Dundee is lower than the Scottish average – 3.4 years less for males and 3.7 years less for females.
The number of people aged 75 and over is expected to grow by 39% by 2044.
Dundee is one of the most deprived areas in Scotland.
Drug and alcohol problems are high, with 42 drug-related deaths and 35 alcohol-related deaths in 2024.
Dundee has the second highest rate of adults who report that are living with a mental health condition in Scotland (over 20,000 people).
About 1 in 10 people over 65 has dementia.
Cancer rates are rising – Dundee is amongst the top third of local council areas with the highest rates of registration .
People in the most deprived areas are more likely to be admitted to hospital.
Dundee has the 6th highest rate of adults who have multiple emergency hospital admissions.
Dundee has the highest rate of hospital admissions for falls among older people in Scotland.
44% of people aged over 65 years with high levels of care needs are cared for at home. This is the 5th highest level across Scotland’s local councils.
13% of adults in Dundee report providing unpaid care to a family member, friend or other person.
Further information about the financial challenges faced by the Dundee IJB
The IJB expects a total budget of about £350 million for 2026/27—£120 million from the Council and £230 million from NHS Tayside. Of this, £100 million is “ring-fenced,” meaning it must be spent in specific ways. For example, £21 million is “set aside” for Dundee’s share of acute hospital services provided by NHS Tayside. The ring-fenced funding also covers payments to GP practices and community pharmacies, as well as services required by law or national standards.
This leaves £250 million that the IJB can use more flexibly and look for possible savings.
What is causing higher costs in health and social care services?
There are big financial pressures on the Scottish Government and all Integration Joint Boards (IJBs), including Dundee. Health and social care services are getting more expensive every year.
A current estimated funding gap for 2025/26 of £4.7 million.
The estimated recurring gap increases to £12.6 million in 2026/27 and all of the IJB’s reserves (money set aside) has been used up.
These numbers may change, but they show that costs are rising for many reasons, including:
Higher costs for prescriptions and shortages of some medicines.
The IJB’s commitment to fair pay and extra pay-related costs set by the Scottish Government.
The need to keep supporting people to live safely at home and help them leave hospital as soon as they are ready.
Rising costs of contracts due to inflation.
More people being discharged from hospital with complex needs and needing support at home.
Overall, there isn’t enough money to cover these increasing costs. The Dundee IJB can’t keep providing the same services in the same way and must find ways to be more efficient, change how services work, and do less going forward.