Watered down Bill won’t fix social care

Commenting on the Scottish Government’s announcement that it is removing the substantial reform elements of its National Care Service Bill, dropping the accountability, responsibility and change of how social care is delivered, Age Scotland’s Chief Executive Katherine Crawford said:

“This was the opportunity of a lifetime to really reform how social care is delivered but this substantive element of the plan has been dropped altogether. The key tests of better public accountability, responsibility, how care is invested in and consistent high standards across the country have not been met in what is now being presented.
 
“With a system crying out for reform, it’s incredibly disappointing that the Scottish Government has decided to water-down its National Care Service plans to this level. The politics behind this has resulted in a collective failure of our older generation of today and tomorrow.
 
“Saving elements of the Bill such as supporting care home visiting and improving carers’ rights is very important and must be upheld.
 
“The challenges facing social care are only getting greater, with huge waits to receive it, an increasing number of people having their packages pulled overnight, and thousands of older people spending months in hospital because they can’t get the vital care they need and deserve at home.
 
“As it stands, this Bill won’t fix any of that.
  
“Without really fixing social care, the Scottish Government’s attempts to reform the health service will happen with one hand tied behind its back.”