Recent figures from Public Health Scotland reveal that over 5,000 Scots are currently awaiting social care assessments, while the number of people needing NHS care packages at home has also risen.
Data collected since early October indicates that 5,987 individuals are waiting for social care assessments, essential for enabling them to live independently at home or within their communities.
Moreover, the number of people already assessed and awaiting a home care package has climbed to 3,220, a slight increase from 3,197 recorded on 5 August 2024.
The Scottish Conservatives have called the situation “shameful,” attributing it to “SNP gross mismanagement.”
These figures emerge as the Scottish Greens announce their decision to withdraw support from the SNP’s proposed National Care Service bill. The bill aims to shift social care responsibilities from local councils to a centralised national body.
Without Green Party backing, the Scottish Government may struggle to pass the legislation through Holyrood next year, despite having already invested £30 million into its development.
The Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) recently told The Herald that the responsibility for the record-high delayed discharge rates in Scotland rests “squarely at the door” of the Scottish Government, citing “delay and dither” over social care reforms.
Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP, Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary, expressed concerns over the latest data: “Thousands of Scots are stuck in limbo instead of receiving the care they urgently need. SNP ministers, detached from the realities of those dependent on social care, have wasted tens of millions on a National Care Service plan now in disarray. With the Greens belatedly recognising the impracticality of a centralised service, it’s time for the SNP to abandon these plans and reallocate funds to tackle these unacceptable delays.”
The Scottish Government initially aimed to launch the National Care Service by 2026 but announced last December that this would be postponed until 2029 due to escalating costs, which have doubled.
Despite the challenges, the government has committed £2 billion towards social care this year, aligning with their pledge to increase expenditure in the sector by 25% by 2026.
Social Care Minister Maree Todd defended the government’s efforts: “These statistics show a 12% reduction in the number of people waiting for a social care support assessment since January, marking the lowest level recorded this year. We remain committed to working with local health and social care partnerships to ensure individuals receive the right care and support when and where they need it. The National Care Service will be pivotal in providing consistent care across Scotland.”
