Scotland's free care is 'too expensive', warns chief social worker

Published on Friday 27 November 2009 21:39

SCOTLAND may not be able to afford to continue offering free personal care for the elderly, according to the nation's top social worker.

Harriet Dempster, president of the Association of Directors of Social Work, yesterday questioned whether the flagship devolution policy is affordable.

The cost of free personal and nursing care rose by 11 per cent last year to 358 million.

The policy, which was introduced in 2002, has been regarded as an untouchable sacred cow of public policy by politicians of all parties in Holyrood.

But Ms Dempster's questioning of its value follows a report by the auditor general Robert Black, who suggested free personal care could be scrapped to tackle a potential black hole of almost 4 billion in Scotland's finances by 2013.

Mr Black estimates that by 2011-12, the cost of free personal care will total well in excess of 500m.

Ms Dempster, who is director of social work at Highland Council, warned that public funding cuts in a recession, combined with rising numbers of the frail elderly, meant something had to give.

She said: "We are in a very difficult financial situation.

"What I'm saying is that it's time to discuss this issue and to debate whether we are getting the very best outcomes for our older people in continuing the policy."

Before the policy was introduced in 2002, those able to pay for care were asked to make a contribution, she said.

"When we have an increased number of frail elderly and very vulnerable people, if we have short resources we want to ensure that the most vulnerable people, who are not in a position to make any contribution, get the services," she added.

Ms Dempster's comments reflect growing concerns within council social work departments about their ability to pay for free care.

Many have struggled to do so and a review of the policy by Lord Sutherland, the architect of the free personal care policy, led to the Scottish Government injecting more money to support it.

However, the Scottish Government was reluctant to review free personal care and insisted that it was important to help Scotland's elderly.

Public health minister Shona Robison said these latest figures reflected the Holyrood parliament's policy of helping the elderly to remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible.

She said: "The Scottish Government has accepted each of the recommendations made by Lord Sutherland in his review of free personal and nursing care – including the added financial commitment of an extra 40m per year.

"We are absolutely committed to maintaining that progress and laying the foundations for Scotland's older people to receive the support they need, not only now but in the years to come."