A National Care Service that works – how much longer?

How much longer do disabled people have to wait for a National Care Service and for our rights in practice?

Inclusion Scotland and the People Led Policy Panel on Adult Social Care Support have long campaigned for a National Care Service that remedies today’s not-fit-for-purpose system of social care support in Scotland.

Again and again, disabled people have shared our lived experiences and expertise on the impacts of today’s poor system of social care support on our daily lives, our rights to independent living, and equal and active participation in our communities.

We have been abundantly clear about what needs to happen so that disabled people across Scotland can readily and fairly access the right support for themselves and their unpaid carers. 

Despite the strength and volume of our voices, disabled people are again facing further delay. Press reports contrary to government announcements are causing confusion, frustration, and concern. Organisations and parties are making political capital from our lives without recourse to us.

We are clear.  The principles of the National Care Service set out in Derek Feely’s Independent Review of Adult Social Care (2021) must prevail.  As the review says ‘if not now, when?’