Main Parties have something to offer – but they’re failing to communicate
ENABLE Scotland – the largest charity of people who have learning disabilities and their carers say all five of the main Scottish political parties have something to offer if they form, or are part of, the next Scottish Government.
The SNP have announced a £70 million change fund to ensure better integration of health and social care in Scotland, and have stated that at least 20% of this will be used to support carers. They have pledged to protect the level of respite care currently being provided, and to provide more short breaks for disabled children. The SNP will also introduce legislation on self-directed support and implement the National Carers’ Strategy introduced during the last parliamentary term, which includes a commitment to better emergency planning for older carers.
Scottish Labour have committed themselves to identifying and meeting the needs of older carers of people who have disabilities, many of whom have cared for their son or daughter for 40 years or more., They also plan to establish a National Care Service to improve consistency of standards across Scotland, and, like the SNP to legislate for self-directed support, giving disabled people more power and control over their services. Scottish Labour also plan to appoint a Disabilities Champion to ensure that the voice of disabled people is heard at the highest level of Government and across Scottish society.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats support closer working between Health and Social Care, but explicitily oppose the creation of a National Care Service as proposed by Scottlsh Labour, viewing it as additional bureaucracy. They have promised a ‘Care for Carers’ Bill to strengthen carers’ assessments and to offer inccreased choice and control through a range of self-directed support options. Importantly, the Scottish Liberal Democrats, through their proposed Care for Carers Bill, also intend to make care assessments portable, enabling people to move between Local Authorities without the need for new assessments. They also propose one disability strategy for Scotland, detailing expected measurable outcomes.
The Scottish Conservatives have said they will merge Health and Social Care budgets, and transfer social care from Local Authority Control to NHS control. They are committed to implementing the National Carers’ Strategy and to providing more respite care and improving services for carers.
The Scottish Green Party recognise the benefits of integrating Health and Social Care, but do not make any specific commitments beyond considering the possible options and ensuring any changes focus on improving quality. They plan to improve access to Advocacy services for all vulnerable people in Scotland, recognising the need for increased funding. Running through the Green Party manifesto is a commitment to protect public services from cuts, together with references to disability in an equality context.
Peter Scott, CEO of ENABLE Scotland said:
“It is clear that the five main political parties recognise that people who have learning disabilities and their carers need better public services and support. We are heartened that they have all made promises in their manifestos that could make this happen. We expect that whoever wins the election will implement their promises, and would like them to take the best ideas from the other manifestos to enable people who have a learning disability and their carers to get the services they need.
We are disappointed that to date, only the Green Party have published their manifesto in easy read format – meaning that many people who have learning disabilities are effectively being excluded. It’s time the political parties stopped treating an important part of the electorate in this way – politics is about communication and all parties should be doing more to reach voters who have learning disabilities”.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
· We are a member-led organisation. Local ENABLE branches are made up of volunteers, mostly people with learning disabilities and their families and carers
· Learning disability affects around 1 in 50 people. The most well known form is Down’s syndrome, although there are many others. There is no cure for learning disability
· ENABLE Scotland was formed in 1954 by a group of families whose lives were affected by learning disability.
· We campaign for people with learning disabilities to live full and independent lives. We also provide services to allow people to live work and take part in their communities.