AN emergency motion opposing plans for the National Care Service has been overwhelmingly passed at the Scottish Greens conference.
The motion, which was proposed by Glasgow Green Cllr Anthony Carroll and the party’s health spokesperson Gillian Mackay MSP, called for the bill to be radically reduced in scope to focus on increasing support and rights to those providing care, including unpaid carers.
The motion says the bill in its current form is "contrary to Green values".
The move comes after Scotland's largest trade union body called for the withdrawal of the National Care Service bill and local authority umbrella body Cosla withdrew its support for the proposals amid pay concerns.
The vote casts the future of the bill not doubt as Green MSP votes could be crucial on whether it will progress or not.
At Scottish Greens conference, Carroll (below) argued the same and highlighted the need for a "practical solution".
“Councillors across the country are deeply concerned that the National Care Service as proposed will take away local accountability of social care and leave it in the hands of Scottish ministers," Carroll said.
He added: "Greens will always stand for the empowerment of local authorities who have local expertise and knowledge. If we centralise that power with the Scottish Government on social care and social work we would see that lost."
Speaking in support of the motion, Mackay also argued for a reformed version of the bill which reduces its scope.
"What I envisage for this going forward is speaking to all of the councillors," Mackay said.
"What I plan to do is to bring forward a paper in the next couple of weeks with where we take red pen through the current bill, leaving some of the provisions."
She added: “There are some positives within the Bill that I hope MSPs from all parties would want to see enacted. For example, giving people living in care homes the right to see and spend time with loved ones, greater support for carers to take personalised respite breaks, and greater access to advocacy and information.
"The government must radically rethink and reduce the scope of this Bill. That means focusing on increasing support and rights to those providing care, including unpaid carers. Without that fundamental change and shift in focus we cannot support it.”
Shona Robison admitted on The Sunday Show she would need to compromise with opposition parties to pass the National Care Service Bill.
The Finance Secretary said she still wanted to go ahead with the plans while finding common ground among MSPs.
“We’ll continue to discuss with the other parties and stakeholders where there is potential room for compromise,” she told the BBC programme just before it was announced that the Greens’ motion had passed.
“I think there are some really important principles in the National Care Service, that point about national standards, about quality.
“It’s hard to see how anyone could disagree about wanting to have national standards so that people in one part of Scotland receive the same quality of service as another.
“I don’t see why anyone would disagree with that but I really hope that on the principles, and those voices in support of the National Care Service, will be listened to a little more.”
“Clearly there will have to be compromise,” she added.
