Trade unions joined together on Wednesday morning to protest against proposed cuts to Glasgow's health and social care services.

Members of Unite, Unison, and GMB gathered outside the Health and Social Care Partnership headquarters on Albion Street ahead of the budget meeting.

The Glasgow Integration Joint Board voted to back the budget proposals with a 9-6 majority, confirming that health and social care services are to be cut by £21 million with up to 200 jobs set to be axed.

Union members hit out at the decision to back the cuts which they claim will impact 'vulnerable children and disabled adults' as well as 'home care, addiction, and homelessness services'.

A spokesperson from the partnership described the budget as "balanced" and that it would "wherever possible" minimise the impact on services.

Sean Bailie, an organiser from GMB Scotland, warned there would be "profound consequences" due to the cuts.

He said: "There will be profound consequences for staff, service users, and Glasgow’s communities as a result of this cuts budget, because the HSCP is already long past the point of sustainable delivery.

“Bluntly, Glasgow’s political leadership and a cadre of unelected officials have consigned the HSCP to a second decade of cuts, and in doing so have washed their hands of their responsibilities to the city’s most vulnerable people.

“It should be clear to everyone now there is no political plan for the recovery of local services, and there is no political will to demand more investment for Scotland’s biggest city.”

We previously reported that the city's health and social care services needed to plug a £40 million funding gap and the impact of the cuts would have a sector-wide impact.

HSCP spokesperson said: “The pressure on public service budgets is significant – and high inflation means that this year has been a particular challenge.

“Officers have worked hard to bring forward a balanced budget that, wherever possible, minimises the impact on services and invests in priorities.

“Clearly, though, members of the Integration Joint Board have serious concerns and will be making that point to stakeholders.”

Chris Sermanni, the UNISON Glasgow Social Work Convenor, claimed that the city needed 'more funding not less' and that 'hundreds of service users will be impacted'.

He said: “Trade unions from both local government and health met today, to protest against budget proposals that removed £21m of funding.

"A number of speakers from UNISON, GMB and UNITE detailed the dire consequences for social care in Glasgow if the tabled cuts were agreed.

"To our anger and dismay, the majority of voting members in the board approved the proposals, and cuts to services including homelessness, homecare and daycare will go ahead as planned.

"Around 202 full-time job losses are predicted, and hundreds of service users will be impacted

"The budget paper itself acknowledges that the HSCP is likely to breach their statutory obligations to service users in the city, and also warned that further cuts may be necessary later in the year. The forecast for next year is even worse.

"Glasgow needs more funding, not less.

"The city has been disproportionately hit by local government and NHS cuts, and this will make a bad situation even worse.

"We need politicians at a national and local level to do more to stand up for the city, and demand more money."