Scottish National Care Service Abandoned After Cost Overruns and Criticism
The SNP government scraps flagship care reform legislation, citing unsustainable costs, while critics decry the handling of social care and NHS pressures.
- The Scottish government has officially abandoned its National Care Service legislation, initially introduced as a major reform to integrate social care with the NHS.
- Projected costs for the National Care Service ballooned from £600 million to £2.2 billion, sparking widespread criticism and logistical concerns.
- Former Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, who championed the Feeley Review that inspired the reform, has condemned the government for losing public and political support for the initiative.
- A chronic shortage of social care workers has exacerbated NHS bed shortages, with some patients unable to be discharged for years due to lack of care provisions.
- Critics argue that both the SNP and UK governments have failed to address systemic issues in social care funding, including low wages and unclear responsibility for costs.
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