SNP Government plan for national care service criticised by NHS chief executives

NHS bosses have delivered another blow to the SNP Government’s troubled national care service plan. Health chiefs are “increasingly concerned” the bill will not address the crisis in social care and are “incredibly mindful” of the risks for children’s services.

The Government’s NCS proposal involves a huge shake up of the sector in a bid to drive up standards and wages. But the plan, which involves creating a new national care board, has been seen as a power grab from councils and NHS boards.

In a submission to a Holyrood committee, NHS board chairs and chief executives jointly outlined their concerns.

They wrote: “NHS Board Chairs and Chief Executives are clear that structural change of itself will not address the fundamental and sustained challenges that Social Care is facing.”

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The bosses said a key driver behind the plan is for national minimum terms and conditions for social care staff, but they complained: "These matters have not been progressed with sufficient pace or priority, particularly given the challenges of recruitment and retention, pressure demands including in respect of delayed discharge and in the context of our demographic profile.”

The senior NHS figures continued: “We have significant concerns that there is still a lack of clear scope to the National Care Service, specifically in its application (or otherwise) to children’s services, justice services, primary care, and community services.”

They also insisted children’s services should not be part of the NCS: “We are incredibly mindful of the risks around disaggregating children’s services from their current constructs, including specifically the inter-relationship with education. "

The chairs and CEOs said they had raised issues “frequently” with the Government, but “limited progress” had been made.

Another area of concern for them is the establishment of a national body. “National Care Service Board, NHS Board Chairs and Chief Executives have substantial concerns about the focus on the creation of a new structural entity," they wrote.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said over the weekend there was a need to “complete the job” on the NCS despite local government body Cosla walking away. He said: “I want to get round the table and see progress on the National Care Service. I want to see it brought into being as quickly as possible, because I understand the need that is out there … the need for this reform. That is why I want to get back round the table with local government and find a way forward.”

Scottish Labour Health and Social Care spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “Opposition to the SNP’s botched plans just keeps mounting, but Ministers are still burying their heads in the sand.

“Social care in Scotland is stretched to breaking point and the SNP has no plan to fix the very real challenges the sector faces.

“Service users and social care workers should be at the heart of any plans, but they appear to have been forgotten as the SNP’s fixates on bureaucracy and centralisation.

“Instead of throwing more and more good money after bad, the SNP must listen to these stark warnings and admit that they are on the wrong track.”

Social Care Minister Maree Todd said: “Creating the National Care Service is about improving lives and ensuring consistency, and we should all want to listen to and address the concerns of the thousands of people who are telling us social care and community health needs to change.

“I welcome the fact that NHS Board and Chief Executives have re-stated their commitment to working with us and other key stakeholders in developing the National Care Service Bill, which is much needed.”

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