By David Scott
16 July 2009
The Scottish system of free personal care for elderly people, introduced in 2002, continues to be controversial as doubts rise over whether it is affordable in the long-term.
A flagship policy of the former Labour-Liberal Democrat Scottish Executive, it was one of the first major post-devolution policies that created a significant difference in care services north and south of the Border.
Douglas McLellan, health policy adviser for Age Concern Scotland, told Public Finance that he believed Scotland was operating a ‘good system’ but it had been introduced too quickly and not sufficiently followed through.
He added: ‘It is a different system from the one outlined in the English green paper. Time will tell whether the two will work. But we believe that in Scotland, the figures show it is sustainable, certainly into the medium term.
McLellan forecast that the changes planned for England could lead to an increase in ‘pre-retirement’ tourism to Scotland. He believed cross border differences should have been examined in the green paper.
Scotland provides free personal and nursing care, either at home or in care homes, for all people over 65 assessed as needing it, irrespective of income.
Individuals still need to pay the ‘hotel’ costs of care home accommodation if they can afford it, contrary to the belief held by some that all costs are ‘free’.
An Audit Scotland report in 2008 said the service needed to be better planned, managed and funded. Lord Sutherland of Houndwood, who carried out a review of the policy, found there was a £40m shortfall in funding but concluded that the policy was sound, affordable and an essential part of planning for demographic change.
He identified costs of £256m for 2006 but warned that these were forecast to rise to £813m by 2031.
16 July 2009
The Scottish system of free personal care for elderly people, introduced in 2002, continues to be controversial as doubts rise over whether it is affordable in the long-term.
A flagship policy of the former Labour-Liberal Democrat Scottish Executive, it was one of the first major post-devolution policies that created a significant difference in care services north and south of the Border.
Douglas McLellan, health policy adviser for Age Concern Scotland, told Public Finance that he believed Scotland was operating a ‘good system’ but it had been introduced too quickly and not sufficiently followed through.
He added: ‘It is a different system from the one outlined in the English green paper. Time will tell whether the two will work. But we believe that in Scotland, the figures show it is sustainable, certainly into the medium term.
McLellan forecast that the changes planned for England could lead to an increase in ‘pre-retirement’ tourism to Scotland. He believed cross border differences should have been examined in the green paper.
Scotland provides free personal and nursing care, either at home or in care homes, for all people over 65 assessed as needing it, irrespective of income.
Individuals still need to pay the ‘hotel’ costs of care home accommodation if they can afford it, contrary to the belief held by some that all costs are ‘free’.
An Audit Scotland report in 2008 said the service needed to be better planned, managed and funded. Lord Sutherland of Houndwood, who carried out a review of the policy, found there was a £40m shortfall in funding but concluded that the policy was sound, affordable and an essential part of planning for demographic change.
He identified costs of £256m for 2006 but warned that these were forecast to rise to £813m by 2031.
