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Elderly face care waiting lists Minister admits to care 'issues'
(about 2 hours later)
At least three quarters of Scotland's councils have a backlog of elderly patients waiting for free personal care, it has been revealed Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald has conceded there were "issues" over the implementation of free personal care for the elderly.
Twenty four local authorities admit delays in delivering the Scottish Executive's policy to help older people with things like washing and dressing. The flagship policy has been widely praised as one of the main achievements of the Scottish Parliament.
Holyrood's Health Committee uncovered waiting times of up to four months. However, Holyrood's health committee found at least 75% of Scotland's councils have waiting lists while funding concerns remain unresolved.
An executive spokesman said free personal care had benefited nearly 50,000 older people in Scotland. Mr Macdonald said: "Some 50,000 people benefit from this policy."
MSPs are to debate a report by the committee which identified "major problems" with the policy. His comments come as MSPs debated a report by the committee which identified "major problems" with the policy.
The waiting times range from five days in the Highlands to four months in Shetland. It found 24 local authorities admitted delays in delivering help to older people with things like washing and dressing.
Midlothian said it had delays of more than three months. After concerns were raised in March, the committee uncovered waiting times of up to four months in some areas.
Information on the extent of the problem in larger authorities like Glasgow, Dundee and Stirling was unclear. It is not enough for us simply to pass legislation and then regard it as a job done Lewis MacdonaldDeputy health minister
It is up to authorities how they deliver services within the resources available Scottish Executive spokesman Mr Macdonald told MSPs that, while there were issues, many Scots had benefited from the introduction of free personal care for those aged over 65.
The figures were obtained by the committee after Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald told MSPs in March that he believed 15 councils were operating some form of waiting for free personal care. He said 40,000 people living at home had received personal care without charge while a further 9,000 or more are receiving payments in care homes to pay for costs.
The numbers are broken down into those waiting for care and those waiting to be assessed to see what care they need. Mr Macdonald said the executive is carrying out their own review of the policy to see whether improvements can be made.
Last month, a report by the committee also looked at questions about funding and continuing confusion over what was covered by the policy. The conclusion is expected later this year.
The report also called on the executive to carry out a thorough review, based on the experience of the last three years, of how much councils need to operate the policy. "We do recognise there are implementation issues," Mr Macdonald said.
'Lack of clarity' "We intend to address those as part of the review and look at issues of long-term sustainability."
In June, a research report for the executive complained of a "lack of clarity" in how the costs of the policy should be calculated. He added: "It is not enough for us simply to pass legislation and then regard it as a job done, the legislation is simply the start of a job and not its completion."
Additional funds
Despite concerns that have been raised by councils over the level of funding, the minister insisted the policy "remains affordable".
Mr Macdonald said generous additional funds had been made available.
Councils were given £153m in 2005, rising to £162m for this financial year and £169m next year.Councils were given £153m in 2005, rising to £162m for this financial year and £169m next year.
Also in June, it emerged that almost 5,000 people were waiting for free personal care. Janis Hughes, deputy convener of the committee, described the policy as one of the parliament's most "significant achievements" but said there were problems.
About 4,000 elderly people were waiting to have their needs assessed and a further 700 were waiting for a care package to be put in place, or to have money reimbursed for services which should be free. "The cost of implementing this policy had been underestimated to an extent that placed significant pressure on Scottish local authorities," she said.
An executive spokesman said: "We are fully committed to free personal and nursing care. There is a danger that the policy could wither on the vine in terms of public support Shona RobisonSNP health spokeswoman
"It is up to authorities how they deliver services within the resources available." Ms Hughes explained that there were concerns some councils were delaying assessments of patients for financial reasons.
Shona Robison, the Scottish National Party's health spokeswoman, said it was "crucial" that action was taken on problems identified by the committee.
"There is a danger that the policy could wither on the vine in terms of public support," she said.
Tory health spokeswoman Nanette Milne said the charging for assistance with food preparation by nearly half of Scotland's councils also threatened to undermine the policy.