Developing a National Care System for Scotland came a step nearer when the Bill to establish it passed stage 1 in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 29th of February.
“This Bill is the biggest public sector reform since devolution and it is our chance to make meaningful change that we all agree is needed to the social care system. I know the people of Scotland will see huge benefits.”
If it succeeds the legislation would set up a Care System, just as we have a National Health Service in Scotland, instead of the jigsaw pattern of care currently which works well in some places but not so in others.
It is intended that a National Care Service would improve the delivery of Care, provide extra support for unpaid carers, and strengthen the role of the workforce.
The Bill has the support of the SNP and Scottish Greens, but is opposed by Labour, Conservatives and LibDems, with the Alba MSP abstaining.
Commenting on the passage of the Bill Social Care Minister in the Scottish Government Maree Todd said:
“We need long-term, widespread transformation to fix some of the ingrained issues within the system and ensure sustainability for the future. We have spent considerable time working with people with lived experience on how to reform social care for the better. I’m grateful to the thousands of people who have lent their voices and I am determined to ensure the Bill delivers the positive change needed.
“Today’s vote shows that the Scottish Parliament also recognises this and I am grateful to them for bringing us one step closer to this urgent reform.”
How care is provided came under intense scrutiny during the early days and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic when deaths in some Care Homes from the virus were at an unacceptable level. Care Home provision is a mixture throughout Scotland with areas like Orkney having them run by the local authority but across most of the country they are private enterprises. The role of unpaid carers and the support they should be getting was also a main issue during the pandemic.
And it should never be forgotten how during the early days of the pandemic before there were vaccinations, the Health and Care workers continued to do their jobs, despite many not being provided with adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to keep them safe. A scandal which is still being investigated How the Michelle Mone scandal unfolded: £200m of PPE contracts, denials and a government lawsuit and with £4 billion of unusable PPE bought in first year of pandemic by the UK Government burnt.
Labour have defended voting against the Bill to establish a National Care Service in Scotland describing it as a ‘botched’ Bill.
Their health spokesperson Jackie Baillie MSP said:
“After an almost two year delay, the SNP is now trying to railroad through a bill that is fundamentally flawed and will do nothing to address the crisis in social care right now.
“That this SNP Government is trying to paint itself as the champion of a National Care Service after opposing the principle for a decade is laughable. This Bill, as it stands, is a shocking betrayal of those in our communities who so desperately need a National Care Service the most. No wonder stakeholders are lining up to criticise the SNP’s approach, from Trade Unions and care providers to those with lived experience.
“Only Scottish Labour has a plan to deliver the National Care Service we need, to boost care workers pay and conditions, to deliver Anne’s Law and the Right to Respite Care, and to finally put social care on the same level as our NHS.”
The Bill allows Scottish Ministers to transfer social care responsibility from local authorities to a new, national service. This could include adult and children’s services, as well as areas such as justice social work. Scottish Ministers will also be able to transfer healthcare functions from the NHS to the National Care Service.
There has been extensive consultations held on the contents of the Bill and it will be under intense scrutiny by the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee in the Scottish Parliament who will take evidence and reach their own recommendations about it. The committee can make amendments to the Bill. The committees are made up of members from all political parties. It will now go onto Stage 2 in the process.
The Bill includes includes establishing a National Care Service Charter, rights to breaks for carers and provisions to enact Anne’s Law so people in care homes have the right to be visited by their families.
Fiona Grahame
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