Health Secretary: National Care Service plans not dead

He urged them to get back around the table with the Scottish Government to make the National Care Service Bill, which would see social care responsibilities transferred from councils to a centralised service, work.

Council chiefs in local government body Cosla said they would no linger back the Bill, arguing that proposed changes by ministers would have the "cumulative effect of eroding local decision-making and the role of local government within social services".

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Trade unions Unison and GMB Scotland had already withdrew support amid concerns it did not address pay and concerns with poor working conditions in the social care sector.

The legislative proposals, which were formed in the wake of the Covid pandemic following an independent review by former NHS Scotland chief executive Derek Feeley, had already been delayed by three years due to costs.

The Health Secretary was quizzed on the future of the Bill on BBC Scotland's the Sunday Show.

Asked if the plans were now "dead" after Cosla withdrew support, he said: "No. I think there's still space for negotiations. I'm open to continued discussions with Cosla, with local authorities, on how we can honour what Feeley recommended which was to see a wholesale reform of social care so that it's brought into parity with health and we see better integration.

"We've been on that journey but we need to continue the job."

Mr Gray added: "I think it's slightly pre-emptive for (council) leaders to have taken this decision.

"But I'm still open to discussions because I believe that we both need to see the reform coming through."

Health Secretary Neil Gray. (Image: PA) Asked if he believed council leaders were "playing politics", Mr Gray told the broadcaster: “I think there’s strongly held views and I understand that. That’s why I think it’s important that we have a discussion over the areas that there were concerns about.

“But at the heart of all this is the recommendations that came through from Feeley which we absolutely clear and if we’re to honour what came through from that review we need to make sure that we get back around the table and we put service users, first and foremost, at the heart of our thinking, and also those who work within social care.

“The National Care Service is about bringing up standards consistently across Scotland both for those that are in receipt of social care services but also for those who work in social care services.”

Cosla's health and social care spokesman Paul Kelly said on Friday: “Local government cannot support the amended National Care Service Bill brought forward by Scottish Government.”

While he said councils had been committed to working with the government on the plans, he added that “unfortunately the revised legislation does not effectively represent that partnership”.

Mr Kelly added: “Local government is committed to continuing our engagement with key areas of reform which can deliver improved outcomes for people, unpaid carers and our workforce.

“We cannot, however, offer our support for the legislation brought forward at this stage.”

He continued: “It is important that the views of people accessing, working in and planning frontline support services are listened to, both with regards to the NCS legislation and also the improvements needed to overcome the sustained financial and workforce pressures being experienced across Scotland.”

Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane urged ministers to accept "the game is up" on the "botched" care service plan.

Dr Gulhane said: "Neil Gray is in denial about the SNP’s botched attempts to create a national care service – but it’s clear his plans are dead in the water. 

“The NCS has united most of civic Scotland against it and has been roundly rejected by councils and trade unions, who are rightly worried about another Nationalist power grab.

“It’s just common sense that social care is best delivered by local providers, who know what works in their area and how much money they need to deliver. 

The costs are eye watering and Neil Gray refused to deny that the cost of setting up a centralised care system had spiralled to £2billion – and not a penny going to the front line.

“It’s time he finally pulled the plug on this unaffordable scheme and diverted every spare penny to local care providers.”