NATS ministers confirmed they would scrap the main reforms of Nicola Sturgeon’s flagship bill – after spending £28million on the doomed proposals.
The plans were already on life support after it lost the support of trade unions, local authority umbrella group Cosla, and the SNP’s former coalition partners the Scottish Greens.
The decision to ditch the main part of the bill – which established the NCS – was announced in a letter to Holyrood’s health committee.
Maree Todd, the social care minister, said the plans would not move on to the next parly stage, and gave no dates on when it would come back to parliament – but insisted the government was still “committed” to the plans.
She said: “That work involves careful consideration of the views of this committee, stakeholders, members of the public and political parties.
“The Scottish Government wishes to take the time that is needed to fully reflect those views in our approach to Stage 2 of the Bill.”
Ms Sturgeon announced the plans in September 2021, promising it would be operating by May 2026 – but this was delayed repeatedly until 2029.
The ex-First Minister labelled it the “most significant public service reform since the creation of the NHS”.
And the former SNP leader said: “Done well, as we intend, a national care service will be one of the biggest ever achievements of this Parliament—and, just like the national health service in the wake of the second world war, it will be a fitting legacy of the trauma of Covid.”
The original plans would have seen a network of regional care boards established across Scotland under an NCS banner – but those plans were scrapped amid furious opposition from councils.
And SNP ministers faced heavy criticism from MSPs over the possible costs of the plans, which spiralled to £2.2billion, almost double the initial £1.2billion estimate, after Holyrood slammed the lack of financial detail for the bill.
In October, the Scottish Tories blasted the Scottish Government for spending almost £29million on the National Care Service since 2021.
A written question showed £28,730,224 has been spent on, or allocated to, the plans since it was announced by Ms Sturgeon.
Tess White, the Scottish Tory deputy health spokesperson said at the time: “It’s just common sense that every penny allocated to this flawed bill should be given to cash-strapped councils, who understand local care needs far better than SNP bureaucrats in Edinburgh.
“Council chiefs, trade unions, and NHS bosses are united in their opposition to this fatally flawed scheme but, in typical SNP fashion, Neil Gray is ploughing ahead regardless.”
