'FREE PERSONAL CARE: IS IT WORKING?'
HEALTH COMMITTEE LAUNCHES INQUIRY INTO FREE PERSONAL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY

CHEAL013/2005 | 9 December 2005

The Health Committee is today launching its inquiry into implementation of the Scottish Executive's free personal care for the elderly policy. It will also be examining the Care Commission's inspection regime.

In an innovative step to learn more about the practicalities of delivering care, individual committee members will be taking part in Care Commission inspections.

Convener of the committee, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, said:

"Free personal care for the elderly was one of the landmark decisions of the first Parliament. We want to see how it is working in practice, and whether it is delivering what was promised.

"We will also be examining the work of the Care Commission in registering and inspecting care homes.

"Earlier this year, in Perth , we held a major consultation event asking all those involved what the focus of our inquiry should be. We wanted to be certain to focus on the key issues for those directly affected by the operation of free personal care on the ground, as well as the Care Commission's work.

"The committee has today launched the full inquiry and I am pleased to say that the remit we have agreed very much reflects the views that were put to us in Perth .

"Since the outset, listening to those affected has been a prime objective of the committee and we now want to hear from those who have experience of free personal care and the Care Commission.

"Members are particularly keen to hear from 'consumers' of free personal care, and their carers, to ensure that their views are given a voice in the inquiry."

As well as an open call for written evidence, the inquiry will involve a number of other 'evidence gathering' activities:

•  Inspections: Committee members will experience at first hand Care Commission inspections - four members will participate in inspections as observers to get an insight into the work of the Commission.

•  Case Studies: The committee is organising three case studies to examine the implementation of the care legislation on the ground. They will visit care facilities and talk to beneficiaries and providers of free personal care in East Lothian , Inverclyde and South Lanarkshire , and meet with the Highland Care Forum in Inverness .

•  Round tables: The committee will be holding a number of 'round table' sessions at Holyrood, inviting those with experience of the issues to discuss with the committee and each other their views and recommendations.

•  Research: The Committee is sponsoring research into the low take-up in Scotland of 'direct payments' - a system which allows those eligible for care to control their own care services.

See also: Call for Evidence

The contact for members of the media is:

Sally Coyne Tel: 0131 348 6269
email: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk

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