Following comments made about the National Care Service at First Minister's Questions on Thursday 3rd October, COSLA’s Health & Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly said:
“Local Government’s principal concern is to ensure that people who need care, get that care at the right time and in the right place.
“COSLA have been working closely with the Scottish Government and local systems as part of the joint mission to reduce delayed discharges from hospital.
“Local systems have put in place significant plans to make reductions in their delayed discharges. That involves work within hospitals to improve discharge planning and in the community to provide care packages. We know from our joint work how much effort and commitment is going on across every partnership and local authority area.
“The reality is however that local systems find themselves under significant financial pressure. In addition, they face significant challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. Different areas face their own unique challenges and there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution.
“It is also important to be clear that the National Care Service plans as laid do not provide a route to tackle the fundamental financial sustainability and workforce pressures currently faced by Scotland’s health and care services.
“We ask the Scottish Government to consider the valuable feedback currently being provided by experts, care workers and partners on the investment and change required now to tackle our shared challenges.” [END]
Further information
The National Care Service Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on June 20th 2022, and allows for the transfer of a range of social care, social work and community health functions from local authorities to a new centralised body under the direction of Scottish Ministers.
On July 12th 2023, Local Government and Scottish Government announced a shared accountability partnership for delivering the National Care Service in an alternative way, with enhanced national strategic direction through the creation of a national NCS Board, but with a continued role for local decision-making and Local Government.
Parliament’s Health Social Care and Sport Committee has sought views on the revised National Care Service Bill. Responses include those from UNISON, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Social Work Scotland, The Promise Scotland, and NHS Board Chief Executives and Chairs.
COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson wrote to Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on 17th September 2024, accompanying COSLA’s full evidence submission on the draft, revised NCS Bill.