Scotland’s National Care Service plan to be ‘delayed not scrapped’

The Scottish Government is to delay its plans for a National Care Service but denies reports that the policy has been dropped.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said the SNP Government was ‘absolutely committed’ to the scheme, which aims to transfer responsibility for social care from councils to a new national body.

Speaking to BBC Scotland today Gray said: “We recognise that there has been much commentary across political parties and with colleagues in Cosla, so we’re looking to take more time to consider those views

“We need to make progress for people who need social care services, so that they are able to get access to a consistent standard.

“We remain committed to a principle of a national care service and are considering all options around how we demonstrate that.”

Earlier at First Ministers’ Questions, John Swinney (pictured) also reiterated the SNP’s commitment to the plan.

He said: “The government will take its time to ensure we get the proposals right, and bring forward proposals that can command parliamentary support.”

Swinney said he recognised the level of opposition, but said many in the care sector were ‘encouraging and indeed pleading with us’ to go ahead with the bill.

He added: “Disabled people’s organisations, carers and service users have pressed the government to take forward the National Care Service.”

Opposition parties and councils are against the plans, which have already been delayed by three years due to financial pressures and uncertainty over costs.

The National Care Service was first announced by Nicola Sturgeon in 2021 aiming to centralise adult social care delivered by local authorities into a single body accountable to the Scottish government.

Picture (c) Jane Barlow / PA.