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| Free health care cost 'not known' | Free health care cost 'not known' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Scotland's flagship policy of free health care for the elderly was launched without full information on costings, a watchdog report has found. | Scotland's flagship policy of free health care for the elderly was launched without full information on costings, a watchdog report has found. |
| Audit Scotland said the policy, established by the Scottish government in 2002, had already cost millions more than expected. | Audit Scotland said the policy, established by the Scottish government in 2002, had already cost millions more than expected. |
| It said the government should provide more "comprehensive and robust" costings for future legislation. | It said the government should provide more "comprehensive and robust" costings for future legislation. |
| About 72,000 older people receive personal care services free of charge. | |
| Audit Scotland said the annual funding gap of up to £63m for free personal and nursing care was expected to worsen. | Audit Scotland said the annual funding gap of up to £63m for free personal and nursing care was expected to worsen. |
| It is well documented that Scotland has a growing older population and demand for free personal care will grow Robert BlackAuditor General | It is well documented that Scotland has a growing older population and demand for free personal care will grow Robert BlackAuditor General |
| It said initial cost estimates were difficult to make because of limited information, but monitoring had also been limited and long-term cost estimates had not been made by the government since 2001. | It said initial cost estimates were difficult to make because of limited information, but monitoring had also been limited and long-term cost estimates had not been made by the government since 2001. |
| The critical report warned policy needed to be better planned, better managed, and better funded. | The critical report warned policy needed to be better planned, better managed, and better funded. |
| It added that the government and councils should work "as a matter of urgency" to clarify ambiguities with the policy. | It added that the government and councils should work "as a matter of urgency" to clarify ambiguities with the policy. |
| Auditor General Robert Black said free personal and nursing care was an important policy for older people in Scotland. | Auditor General Robert Black said free personal and nursing care was an important policy for older people in Scotland. |
| Growing shortfall | Growing shortfall |
| He added: "It is well documented that Scotland has a growing older population and demand for free personal care will grow. | He added: "It is well documented that Scotland has a growing older population and demand for free personal care will grow. |
| "There needs to be better planning and better funding of this policy." | "There needs to be better planning and better funding of this policy." |
| The payments, increased in line with inflation, are about to go up to £149 a week for personal care and an additional £67 for those in a care home which provides nursing care. | The payments, increased in line with inflation, are about to go up to £149 a week for personal care and an additional £67 for those in a care home which provides nursing care. |
| The total cost of the policy in the first four years was £1.8bn, although councils would have spent £1.2bn even if the policy had not been introduced, as some free services were previously provided. | The total cost of the policy in the first four years was £1.8bn, although councils would have spent £1.2bn even if the policy had not been introduced, as some free services were previously provided. |
| We have long argued that the legislation is unclear Ronnie McCollCosla | We have long argued that the legislation is unclear Ronnie McCollCosla |
| This £600m gap had led to a growing shortfall in government funding, and by 2005 this annual gap was either £46 million or £63 million, depending on the assumptions used. | This £600m gap had led to a growing shortfall in government funding, and by 2005 this annual gap was either £46 million or £63 million, depending on the assumptions used. |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the report supported the approach of the SNP government, which had asked Lord Sutherland to lead a funding review of the policy. | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the report supported the approach of the SNP government, which had asked Lord Sutherland to lead a funding review of the policy. |
| "Having looked back at the legislation, and the guidance given at the time of its introduction, the auditor general found these to be ambiguous, leading to uncertainty and inconsistencies across local authorities" she said. | "Having looked back at the legislation, and the guidance given at the time of its introduction, the auditor general found these to be ambiguous, leading to uncertainty and inconsistencies across local authorities" she said. |
| "This is exactly why we are working in partnership with Cosla to resolve issues such as eligibility criteria, waiting lists and food preparation." | "This is exactly why we are working in partnership with Cosla to resolve issues such as eligibility criteria, waiting lists and food preparation." |
| Councils said the report showed they were right to press for reform of the free personal care legislation. | Councils said the report showed they were right to press for reform of the free personal care legislation. |
| Cosla spokesman Ronnie McColl said: "We have long argued that the legislation is unclear in terms of councils' entitlement to charge residents for assisting with the preparation of food." | Cosla spokesman Ronnie McColl said: "We have long argued that the legislation is unclear in terms of councils' entitlement to charge residents for assisting with the preparation of food." |