An open letter from the Disabled People’s Movement

The National Care Service: If not now, when?

Read our open letter here!

Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) in Scotland wrote an open letter on Wednesday 20^th November, to call on the Scottish Government, COSLA, Unions and all political parties to “not let the moment pass” and to continue to work together, alongside disabled people, on developing a National Care Service with those who need social care at the heart of its design and delivery.

On 14h November 2024, the Scottish Government announced further delays to its flagship plans for a National Care Service. DPOs were ‘truly shocked’ and devastated to hear the reports of the potential delays and scrapping of the Bill and urge the Government to re-consider their decisions to delay the Bill and listen to disabled people. Instead, continue to drive forward the much-needed reform of Scotland’s social care system as ‘wholesale reform is so urgently needed.’

As we wait desperately for reform, thresholds for social care are so high, that disabled people and their carers are just not accessing the support they need. Our members speak of long waiting times for assessments; prohibitive eligibility criterias, and where support is provided, social care charges plunge disabled people and their families into deep poverty.

“Disabled people of all ages need change, and the status quo is not an option because disabled people are suffering. We need vital support to live a life of dignity and choices that non-disabled people take for granted. We must remember that this lived experience was the driving factor that led Ministers to commission the Independent Review of Adult Social Care (2021).”

The letter was co-authored by members of the Scottish Independent Living Coalition, including; Glasgow Disability Alliance, Disability Equality Scotland, Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living, Inclusion Scotland, Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living and DG Voice.

Despite the dilution of disabled people’s voices, we still want a National Care Service. We need national oversight and standards and meaningful accountability measures. To ensure that, we need a commitment, from the Scottish Government, and all other relevant stakeholders of the inclusion of disabled people and their mandated organisations, and a political leadership, with transparency and openness in every stage of its development.

Read our open letter here!

For additional formats, click here.