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This is not the national care service we need
Unison completely supports a new, expanded care system — but what the Scottish government has put in front of us enables the break-up and privatisation of social work, institutionalising insecurity, warns KATE RAMSDEN
Care Service

YOU could be forgiven for thinking the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill lays out a vision for a national care service in Scotland. You would be wrong.

It is a “framework” Bill. That means it gives no detail at all about what a national care service would look like, but if passed, would enable Scottish ministers to decide that without proper parliamentary scrutiny. It promises “co-design” but does not commit to listening or acting on what comes out of that.

Essentially it asks us to trust ministers to design a service that will meet the needs of staff and service users alike, leaving our members in social work and social care hostages to fortune.

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