By Lucy Ashton
Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie has today sounded the alarm as new statistics show that the number of Scots waiting on a care package has soared.
A new report has shown that the number of people estimated to be waiting on a social care assessment to enable them to live independently at home or in the community was just over 6,850.
The number of people stuck on this waiting list has soared by an estimated 307 in the space of just three weeks.
A further 3,526 people were estimated to be assessed and waiting for a care at home package at this time.
This comes as the SNP government is fighting a desperate rear-guard action to save their botched National Care Service bill which is facing stiff opposition from workers, unions and care users and includes no mechanism to address levels of demand.
Dame Jackie, pictured left, said: “While the SNP government attempt to railroad their botched National Care Service bill through parliament, thousands of Scots are going without the care they both need and deserve.“The simple fact is that the SNP government is failing in its duty to look after the most vulnerable in our society.
“We cannot begin to sort the crisis in our health service without tackling the serious issues in social care.
“Scottish Labour is committed to standing up for those in need of social care and the staff that work tirelessly to deliver the care that they need.”
Social care – demand for care at home services
- The number of people estimated to be waiting on a social care assessment to enable them to live independently at home or in the community was just over 6,850 on 5 February 2024.
- The estimated number of people assessed and waiting for a care at home package was just over 3,526 on 5 February 2024.