National Care Service Plan Faces Third Delay as Government Declines Scrap Rumors

Edinburgh, Scotland – The Scottish government has again pushed back the launch of its ambitious National Care Service (NCS) plan, but denies that it has been scrapped. Health Secretary Neil Gray said he remains "absolutely committed" to the scheme, which aims to transfer responsibility for social care from local councils to a new national body.

The NCS was first announced in the wake of the Covid pandemic, and its launch had faced significant opposition from various parties, including the Scottish Greens. The party's co-leaders, Partick Harvie and Lorna Slater, withdrew their support last month, citing concerns over financial viability and cost-cutting measures.

Gray acknowledged that the government was considering all options and taking time to weigh in views, amid criticism from council bodies such as Cosla and trade unions. However, he stressed that part one of the legislation – setting up a national oversight body – had not been dropped.

"We need to make progress for people who need social care services," Gray said, "so that they can get access to a consistent standard. We remain committed to a principle of a national care service and are considering all options around how we demonstrate that."

The NCS aims to deliver "nationally agreed and nationally enforceable standards" of social care, and has been touted as a major reform in the Scottish healthcare system. Gray emphasized that any further delays were necessary to ensure the scheme's successful implementation.

A new timeline is expected to be announced in the new year, with MSPs set to consider potential amendments to the bill later this month. As the debate rages on, Health Secretary Gray remains resolute in his support for the NCS plan, saying that he is "absolutely committed" to delivering a consistent standard of social care services across Scotland.