HEALTH COMMITTEE PUBLISHES INQUIRY REPORT ON COMMUNITY CARE

(‘Sutherland Report’)

Personal care services for the elderly, incapacitated and infirm should be free at the point of delivery, says a report published today (Tuesday, November 28) by the Parliament’s Health and Community Care Committee.

Building upon the findings of Sir Stewart Sutherland's Royal Commission on Long Term Care, the committee's report calls for fairness and equality in the delivery of services, and an end to means testing.

Committee convener Margaret Smith said:

"A civilised society is judged upon how well it looks after its most vulnerable citizens and it is clear that many of Scotland’s most vulnerable people are not getting the support services they need or deserve.

"Throughout our ten-month inquiry, the overwhelming message we received from stakeholders in community care was that personal care services should be free at the point of use. While we recognise that such a commitment could have an effect on other aspects of community care spending, we received strong indications that this is an important issue of principle for the people of Scotland.

"Our cross-party committee unanimously supports the principle of free personal care delivery, without means testing individuals’ eligibility, and notes the Scottish Executive’s calculation which establishes the requirement for an extra funding commitment of £110 million.

"We welcome the steps that have already been taken by the Executive towards implementing several of the key recommendations within the Sutherland Report. However, overall, we remain persuaded by the substantial body of evidence presented to us that there should be no charge for services assessed as being required to meet the personal care needs of an individual.

"The committee, therefore, fully recommends to the Executive that free personal care should be provided on the basis of assessed need. The committee based its decision not only on the basis of equity and fairness but also on the evidence provided that this would lead to better service delivery."

The committee’s report also includes the following recommendations:

• That the endorsement of values of fairness and equity be supported by the principle that care in the community whether delivered to older people, individuals with mental health problems or those with learning disabilities is always informed by evidence based best practice in care and rehabilitation.

• There should be a commitment to raising both NHS and local authority expenditure on community care services in real terms. Expenditure should be accountable, transparent and ensure best value.

• That the Executive should take immediate steps to establish a simple and transparent guide to the funding of community care services, accessible to all stakeholders.

• Steps should be taken to ensure uniformity throughout Scotland where charges are made for the provision of support services. A public service agreement should be established between the Scottish Executive and COSLA on the allocation of community care monies to contain minimum and maximum charges for services.

• That the Executive should develop and endorse a National Service Framework for Community Care Services to collect and review research on best practice and innovation and to establish baseline service requirements and delivery protocols. There should be a full audit of the funding needs and of the resources currently available for community care in Scotland.

• That access to social work provision, as to health provision, should be available 24 hours a day. Joint training of health and social work staff will assist in providing a fully integrated service.

• A single body should be given the role of budget holding, planning and commissioning of community care services.

BACKGROUND NOTES

The embargo on this news release expires at 10.00am Tuesday, November 28 and is not for prior publication, broadcast or comment.

The full text of the committee’s report will be published on the Parliament’s website at 10.00am, Tuesday, November 28. Hard copies of the report can also be purchased from outlets of the Stationery Office.