Call To Prevent Councils Delaying Provision Of Free Care For Elderly

Loopholes in legislation providing free personal care to Scotland’s elderly must be closed to prevent councils operating waiting lists and rationing services, MSPs have demanded. The call came as it emerged that 24 local authorities were experiencing delays in assessing people to see if they were eligible for care or actually delivering help to over-65s with tasks such as washing and dressing. Lewis Macdonald, the deputy health minister, conceded there were “issues” over the implementationof the policy, as he faced questions from the parliament’s health committee.

Janis Hughes, the deputy convener of the health committee, said there were major problems with the free personal care scheme.

She said payments could be made only after a person was assessed and could not be backdated, leading to concerns that councils were delaying assessments for financial reasons. “The Executive should legislate to prevent it,” said Ms Hughes. She added that there was a “logical and ethical” argument for extending the scheme to those aged under 65 who needed it.

Waits for assessment for free personal care vary from 64 days in Midlothian to three days in Perth and Kinross. Waits for care being delivered ranged from no waiting at all in the Highlands to 52 days in East Lothian and 67 days in Shetland.

Shona Robison, the Scottish National Party’s health spokeswoman, told MSPs that the funding formula for free personal care had been established on a false premise, by taking a “snapshot” of local authorities’ requirements at that time. “It was a blunt instrument, leading to a situation where some councils are totally strapped for cash and have waiting lists, while others have an underspend,” she said.

Nanette Milne, the Conservative health spokeswoman, said the problems identified by the committee had to be tackled without delay. She continued: “The two major issues threatening to undermine the policy are the operation of waiting lists by three-quarters of local authorities and the charging for assistance with food preparation by nearly half of them.”

Mr Macdonald defended the policy, saying: “Although there are implementation issues, it is worth reiterating that some 50,000 people benefit from this policy, 40,000 of those living at home receiving personal care without charge and a further 9,000 or more are receiving payments in care homes.”

The minister said the Executive was reviewing the policy to see whether improvements could be made. He said that despite concerns raised over funding levels, the policy remained affordable.

“We have provided generous additional funds reflecting the additional pensioners qualifying for free personal care amounting to £162 million this year,” Mr Macdonald said.

This was on top of the £90 million already allocated this year to councils for older people’s services. “The policy, in short, is fully funded,” he said.