The SNP has abandoned its National Care Service plan after facing significant pushback from unions and councils, despite investing nearly £30 million.
Edinburgh: So, the SNP Government has decided to scrap its National Care Service plan. They spent almost £30 million on it, but it just didn’t work out. Trade unions, councils, and other parties pulled their support, which really put a nail in the coffin.
The idea was to shake up social care to improve standards and pay. They wanted to fix the issues that Covid highlighted, like the uneven quality of care across different areas. It was a real mess, with workers getting paid differently for the same job.
But the proposed Bill, which aimed to create a new national care board, felt like a power grab to many. The SNP just didn’t have enough votes in Holyrood to make it happen.
Social Care Minister Maree Todd said it was disappointing for those who wanted change. She acknowledged that people wanted more transparency and scrutiny in the system. But she reassured everyone that she’s still committed to improving social care.
She also mentioned that her door is always open for discussions. The goal is to make social care better for everyone, and she’s urging everyone to work together on this.
Moving forward, they plan to push a smaller version of the Bill. This will focus on strengthening rights for people in care homes. They’re also thinking about setting up a national advisory board, but it won’t have any legal power.
