There’s increasing pressure for an independent investigation into the National Care Service’s failed plans in Scotland, with many demanding accountability.
Edinburgh: The Scottish Government is facing mounting calls for an independent inquiry into the National Care Service fiasco. Critics are saying it’s crucial to hold those responsible accountable.
Opposition parties are rallying behind this demand, emphasizing the need to learn from the mistakes made. They believe the government shouldn’t be allowed to sweep this under the rug.
Recently, the government dropped its plans for the National Care Service. Social Care Minister Maree Todd admitted there wasn’t enough support to push the legislation through.
The proposal aimed to overhaul adult social care by centralizing services, but it faced backlash from various groups right from the start. Unions, councils, and care advocates all raised concerns.
In a column set to appear in The Herald, the Common Weal Care Reform Group urged the Finance Committee to have Audit Scotland investigate the scrapped plans. They argue the government was pushing a “pointless vanity project.”
They also accused the government of running a “manipulative political PR campaign,” claiming it created divisions among those who need care and those who provide it.
Common Weal pointed out that the process wasted a staggering £27 million of public funds. They stressed that this money could have been better spent on actual care services, especially with the current crisis in Scotland.
They’re calling for an inquiry to determine if the failures were due to officials or direct ministerial guidance. The group insists that Scotland can’t ignore such failures.
Scottish Conservative Dr. Sandesh Gulhane welcomed the inquiry call, criticizing the SNP for wasting taxpayer money. He believes lessons must be learned to improve social care delivery.
Dame Jackie Baillie from Scottish Labour echoed these sentiments, highlighting that the wasted funds could have provided a million hours of social care. She stressed the importance of collaborating with frontline providers.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton also criticized the SNP, saying they wasted time and resources during a care crisis. He believes the focus should have been on practical solutions.
In response, a Scottish Government spokesperson clarified that the National Care Service hasn’t been scrapped. They’re proposing a revised approach to improve social care experiences for everyone involved.
They emphasized the urgent need for reform, noting that the money spent on these proposals is a small fraction of the overall social care budget.
