Executive Admits Confusion over Free Personal Care

The policy of free personal care for the elderly is still beset by confusion over what it covers, ministers conceded yesterday. The admission came in the Scottish Executive’s response to a report by Holyrood’s health committee which identified “major problems”, such as questions about funding, the use of waiting lists by some councils and confusion over whether services such as help with preparing meals was covered. In its formal response, the Executive said: “We agree that aspects of the policy may need to be communicated or delivered more effectively.”

It has accepted some of the report’s recommendations – including a declaration that everyone entitled to free personal care should have it provided “without undue delay” – but others are merely “noted”, including a call to plug loopholes that allow free personal care to be rationed.

The report asked ministers for a thorough review, based on the experience of the past three years, of how much money local authorities need to operate the policy, but the Executive said it was already working with councils on a new funding formula.

Lewis Macdonald, the deputy health minister, said the report recognised the policy had benefited nearly 50,000 older people, allowing many to be cared for at home.

“Not surprisingly, however, there have been some teething problems with the implementation of this policy that need to be sorted out,” he said.

Shona Robison, the SNP’s health spokeswoman, said: “For Lewis Macdonald to dismiss the very real problems of over 4,000 elderly waiting for free personal care as teething problems is complacent to say the least.”