Scottish councils urge SNP to halt controversial National Care Service plans and redirect funding

The body representing Scotland's councils has urged SNP ministers to pause their controversial National Care Service plans and redirect money into frontline services instead.

Cosla said it was "inconceivable" that services were facing real-terms cuts while ministers pushed ahead with "centralising structural reforms".

It previously warned the draft Scottish Budget, published on December 15, will leave services at “absolute breaking point”, with some potentially forced to close altogether.

The Scottish Government’s plans to create a National Care Service have been billed as the most ambitious public sector reform since the creation of the NHS.

Ministers argue a National Care Service will end the ‘postcode lottery’ of care

Ministers argue the legislation, which would make them responsible for adult social care, will end the “postcode lottery” in place across Scotland. But critics have labelled it a “power grab” and an “all-out assault on local democracy”.

Holyrood’s finance committee, which is convened by SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson, has also expressed “significant concerns” over a lack of detailed costs.

Councillor Paul Kelly, Cosla’s health and social care spokesman, said: “It is inconceivable that the Scottish Government has put forward a Budget that would see real-terms cuts to frontline care services, whilst proceeding with centralising structural reforms.

“Our communities, our dedicated frontline workforce and our vital public services deserve to be valued. Rhetoric must meet reality now; we cannot wait until 2026.

“Improvements to care could progress faster and with more impact if services were properly resourced and did not face the distraction of structural reform. Instead, we are presented with reorganisation and real-terms cuts, which will have a significant impact on the delivery of care.

“Ministers must invest in change now and pause their plans for structural reorganisation.”

Councils have identified financial pressures of more than £1 billion in 2023/24. However, Cosla said the draft Budget will only provide for around £70 million of that once policy commitments are taken into account.

It said local authorities spend around £4.3bn on directly supporting communities through care and social work services, which will now come under “tremendous pressure”.

The council body said it remained unclear how much money had been allocated to the National Care Service plans.

The legislation is due to begin its passage through the Scottish Parliament in March, with ministers hoping to have the service operational by 2026.

Social care minister Kevin Stewart said: “The Scottish Government’s draft budget for 2023/24 increases funding for health and care services, including supporting the increase in pay for adult social care staff to at least match the real living wage.

“The National Care Service is the biggest public sector reform in Scotland since devolution. Our aim in delivering a National Care Service is to end the postcode lottery in care provision. We have a twin approach of delivering improvements now and working with people with lived experience to ensure the new system better meets the needs of the people of Scotland long into the future.

“We have also committed to increasing adult social care funding by at least 25 per cent, £840m, by the end of the Parliament, helping to lay the groundwork for the National Care Service.”