The SNP Health Secretary is seeking discussions with council leaders after they pulled their support for flagship plans to set up a National Care Service.
Neil Gray insisted there was a need to “complete the job”, despite the local government body Cosla announcing last week that it could no longer back a Scottish Government Bill to set up such a service.
Ministers had put forward the plans in the wake of the Covid pandemic, with the move seen as being key to reform in the social care system. That came after a review of care services, led by former NHS Scotland chief executive Derek Feeley, had recommended establishing a National Care Service.
But trade unions and councils have now withdrawn their support for Scottish Government legislation that would create this.
Gray insisted it was “slightly pre-emptive” for council leaders to have withdrawn support, saying the Government had delayed changes to its legislation over the summer as work was done with councils to try to reduce delayed discharges. The Health Secretary added he was still “open to discussion” with councils’ leaders on the subject, as he stressed the need to “find a way forward”.
Speaking on The Sunday Show on BBC Scotland, Gray 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.”
Cosla had previously warned the proposals from the government would have the “cumulative effect of eroding local decision-making and the role of local government within social services”. But Gray insisted the change was “not about centralisation” but was “about making sure we are bringing consistent standards across the country” in social care.
Gray continued: “I am still open to discussion because I believe we both need to see the reform coming through, that is why I will keep the discussions open with Cosla.”
The Health Secretary insisted: “There is still space for negotiation. I am open to continue discussions with Cosla, with local authorities, on how we honour what Feeley recommended, which was to see a wholesale reform of social care so that it is brought into parity with health and we see better integration. We’ve been on that journey but we need to complete the job.”
Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “More and more stakeholders are sounding the alarm about the flaws in these misguided plans, but this arrogant SNP government is still refusing to listen. Social care in Scotland is at crisis point, but the SNP is wasting time, energy and money trying to save their botched plans.
“The SNP must go back to the drawing board and set out real plans to improve our social care system.”
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