National Care Service campaign

The Scottish Government is putting a Bill through Parliament to set up a National Care Service (NCS), the bill leaves profiteering at the heart of care, and will outsource a huge range of functions; all of social work and social care out of councils, and an unknown number of responsibilities out of the NHS.    This threatens the employment and pensions of tens of thousands of workers, and meaning a huge sum of money will be spent on structural change rather then on improving services.

This page will be a hub for UNISON Scotland’s information and resources about UNISON Scotland’s campaign to have the current Bill withdrawn and for the Scottish Government to start again and come up with plans for aa real national Care Service.

We are asking all UNISON members to contact their MSPs, many of whom are still unaware of what the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill contains.

  • You can email your MSPs using this one click link here.
  • UNISON Scotland has prepared a short guide to the Bill, its main provisions, and the implications of a measure that is an unequivocal attack on the idea of publicly delivered public services. You can view the guide here.
thumbnail of Post Stage One NCS Bill Briefing 141 (2)

Briefing 141 – National Care Service Bill Update

The General Principles of the National Care Service Bill were approved by Parliament on 29 February. This briefing summarises where ...
thumbnail of UNISON NCS Bill Stage 1 MSP Briefing

MSP Briefing – National Care Service (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 vote

UNISON has urged MSPs not to vote for the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill. The Scottish people have a right ...
thumbnail of Policy Briefing 139 Revised NCS Jan 2024

Briefing 139 – National Care Service: Revised Government Plans

The Scottish Government has radically revised its plans for a National Care Service.   This follows negotiations with COSLA and the ...
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Towards a REAL National Care Service – Summary Report

This is the Summary of a report commissioned by UNISON Scotland from APSE, the Association for Public Service Excellence and ...
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Towards a REAL National Care Service for Scotland – Full Report

With the National Care Service Bill in tatters, this timely report makes a compelling case for the direct public delivery ...
thumbnail of NCS Bill Update October 2023 e-briefing (002)

e brief – Update on the National Care Service Bill October 2023

Since its introduction in June 2022, UNISON has campaigned for the National Care Service Bill to be withdrawn. We want ...
thumbnail of SSSC E-briefing October 2023

e brief – SSSC Consultation on Proposed Register Changes

The Scottish Social Services Council is consulting on 3 changes it wishes to make to the Register. These changes affect ...
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Briefing 131 – Consultation on Safe Staffing Statutory Guidance: Care Services

The Scottish Government is consulting on its draft Statutory Guidance for safe staffing in health and care. The Health and ...
thumbnail of UNISON Response Winter Preparedness Health Social Care Cttee July23

Winter preparedness – response to Health, Social Care & Sport Committee

This is UNISON Scotland's response to the Scottish Parliament's Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s call for evidence[1] for the ...
Press Release

UNISON comment on the Scottish Government National Care Service partnership announcement

UNISON Scotland head of local government Johanna Baxter said:  “The announcement that social care staff will continue to be employed ...