Post-pandemic social care - Hopes and Disappointments

 I was speaking at the launch of the report 'Post-pandemic Hopes and Disappointments', which looks at post-pandemic social care across Europe. Written by the brilliant Lisa Pelling from the progressive Swedish think tank Arena Idé. This is a follow-up to an earlier report on social care, to which I contributed a chapter on Scotland. 

This new report argues that it is now high time to evaluate what reforms have been undertaken in the different countries following the pandemic. Unlike Scotland and the UK, Sweden's pandemic inquiry has already reported. It asks what change have trade unions and their members been able to make? What strategies were successful, and what battles have not yet been won? What are the current priorities of trade unions in the care sector?

The report examines seven countries, including Scotland, focusing on these questions. You can watch my summary of the lessons learned and the future challenges for Scotland here (22 minutes in). https://www.facebook.com/Arenaide/videos/191738276912822

In short, these are immediate actions on funding and Fair Work for those who work in social care. We also need to rethink the proposed National Care Service, moving away from centralisation and privatisation towards a national framework with local delivery and accountability. The Scottish Government's pause is welcome, but this mustn't be an excuse to kick social care into the long grass as they did in England with the Dilnot report. This is an issue the Jimmy Reid Foundation will discuss at its STUC Congress fringe meeting in Dundee next month.

The report concludes that funding elderly care with private insurance is not a solution either. It is unlikely to bring more resources into the sector. Rather, only a redistributive tax system is likely to provide enough funding for care needs. And the question would still be: where will workers come from? Improvement in pay and conditions is pivotal as well. 

Another important conclusion is that we have enough evidence: it’s time to move on to implementation and reforms. There are too many glossy documents, too many commissions, and too little action. Very true in Scotland as elsewhere!