A consultation has been launched by the lead committee scrutinising the proposed National Care Service Bill, saying it is “determined” to give the public, organisations and key stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on new changes.

In an unusual step, the Scottish parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee has reopened a consultation – to last until the end of the parliament’s summer recess – after ‘substantial amendments’ were brought by the Scottish government.

After a majority of the committee backed the National Care Service (NCS) Bill at Stage 1, MSPs voted 65 to 50 to support the general principles of the government’s proposals.

In delivering its support for the Bill at the first stage, the committee confirmed it would seek to conduct detailed further scrutiny of the proposals at Stage 2.

Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said:

“When a majority of our Committee backed the general principles of this Bill, we made clear we would need to carry out detailed further scrutiny at Stage 2.

“Now the government has provided a package of proposed draft amendments, we are determined to make sure stakeholder organisations and the public are given an opportunity to comment on these proposed changes.

“Since this Bill was first introduced as a ‘framework Bill’, many of the original proposals have changed.”

A consensus agreement between COSLA and the government on shared legal accountability for the National Care Service and the decision to no longer establish individual care boards led the government to estimate millions less would be needed to deliver the NCS.

However, these amendments left social care sector leaders concerned over the “fundamentally changed” NCS as they urged the government to ensure co-development is not lost.

Now, with Scotland’s Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport having provided a complete draft of government amendments to the Bill, the committee says it is keen to hear from the public and stakeholders on these proposals.

In a letter to the committee, Maree Todd outlines four areas where she says, ‘further work is needed to confirm which legislative approach would best deliver the intended changes.’ 

These include direct funding, the inclusion of children’s services, the inclusion of justice social work and Anne’s Law, and the committee is asking for views on each of these areas.

Another key change to the Bill which the committee is looking to hear about is the creation of a National Care Service Board which would be responsible for national oversight and improvement of social care and social work services.

Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said the “far-reaching reforms” proposed require further scrutiny:

“These amendments represent some quite fundamental changes, including the introduction of a National Care Service Board and far-reaching reforms to integration authorities through amendment of the 2014 Public Bodies Act.

“That’s why it’s essential our committee takes the time to scrutinise these proposals effectively. After we have considered the views received, we intend to take further oral evidence before formal Stage 2 proceedings.

“The evidence we gather will be vital to aid our committee’s scrutiny of these proposals, and to inform individual members as they prepare their own Stage 2 amendments to the Bill. We look forward to hearing your views.”

This newly launched call for views comes ahead of formal Stage 2 proceedings and will be open to responses until Friday 30^th of August.

A spokesperson for the Scottish parliament told healthandcare.scot that while it is ‘not unprecedented’ for a committee to consult on a Bill at Stage 2, it is not a common occurrence.

The committee is likely to hold further evidence sessions on the amendments later this year, after the consultation closes.

Read more: Workforce and public to inform NHS reform; Feeley: Social care change can happen now; Uncovering the hidden role of carers in Scotland; Children services need more than structural change; Social inequalities worsen health for LGBT+; Reframing how we value carers; Doctors ‘deeply concerned' for care homes

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