John Swinney is under growing pressure to rethink his Government’s “botched” plans to introduce a National Care Service.
The SNP leader faced repeated questions on the subject at First Minister’s Questions today after fresh doubts were raised over the flagship policy will ever be delivered.
The Scottish Government has struggled to spell out exactly how a National Care Service will operate after local authorities and NHS bosses voiced serious reservations.
SNP ministers have insisted it would see standards across the country’s care industry driven up by Holyrood taking more control of how services are delivered.
But councils have withdrawn support for the project amid fears it amounted to little more than a power-grab.
Anas Sarwar said his party remained supportive of a National Care Service but called on the First Minister to present a “credible alternative plan”.
“Scottish Labour has called for a National Care Service for more than a decade, and we welcomed when this Government finally agreed to support one,” he said.
“We warned though that it had to be more than a slogan. Half a decade later, and the SNP’s plans are now in disarray.
“The fact is that their plans are just a National Care Service in name only that does nothing to actually fix the problem, fund a single extra care worker or improve services.
“It’s why care unions, councils and NHS leaders are now withdrawing support and raising concerns. The SNP’s plans could now cost £2.2 billion.
“Their botched plans are just a power-grab that will waste money, won’t improve care and won’t address delayed discharge which is a key factor in the NHS crisis.”
Sarwar added: “We support a proper National Care Service. But as always with this government, no good idea ever survives their incompetence.
“It’s time that the First Minister woke up to the reality in our NHS and care service, ditched this costly, unworkable bill and brought forward a credible alternative plan to fix the crisis the SNP created.”
Criticism of the plans has increased in recent days after local authority body Cosla pulled support and it emerged more than £28 million has been spent on devising the service since 2021.
Trade unions have already withdrawn their support.
Russell Findlay, the new Scottish Conservatives leader, called on Swinney to abandon the care service plans.
“The SNP’s plans for a National Care Service have already wasted £28 million of taxpayers’ money,” he said. “Four parliamentary committees have warned about its flaws, NHS bosses have serious concerns, Scotland’s council leaders have pulled their support.
“So why is the First Minister pushing ahead with a plan that nobody seems to want?”
Swinney said there is a need for the care service was to ensure people can receive the “highest quality of support” regardless of where they live in the country.
The First Minister added that issues caused by delayed discharges – which sees many older patients stuck in hospital until a care home place could be found for them – was one of the reasons he supported for reform.
He added: “I’m very, very concerned about the level of delayed discharge in our hospitals today. It has been the focus of significant attention from me as First Minister and the Health Secretary and his ministerial team and those acting on our behalf.”
“I ask myself why is there a position which is 10 times worse at the other end of the spectrum?” he said. “That is unfair in this country, it needs to be addressed, and that is what a National Care Service will deliver.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here