National Care Service Forum 2022: summary report

Reflections from Ministers

Humza Yousaf, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

I really enjoyed hearing from so many people who attended the first National Care Service Forum, both in person and online. The range and diversity of input reflected so well the breadth and scale of the work ahead. 

The feedback captured on the day is contained within this report and will be used to build our evidence base and support future discussions. 

For us, the real work starts now. The scale of the challenge – and the opportunity – that the NCS will bring cannot be underestimated, and we need to do that together.  

I hope people across Scotland continue to contribute to future discussions about the National Care Service. 

I know we all share the real desire to ensure we have a community health and social care system that best fits the needs of people across Scotland for the future.

Kevin Stewart, Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care

From the day I took up my role as Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care I have been clear that the loudest voice on the future of social care support should come from those with lived and living experience. That's why I was so delighted to host the first National Care Service (NCS) Forum. On the stage and around tables, and in passing conversations we heard from so many people with lived and living experience, about the development of the NCS.

My experience at the NCS Forum reinforced my commitment to ensuring that we continue to listen to and amplify those voices throughout the design stages of NCS.

Scotland's community health and social care system has seen significant incremental change over the past 20 years. Despite this, people with experience of accessing and delivering care support have been clear that there remain some significant issues.

Through the National Care Service, we need to grasp the opportunity to deliver public service improvement together in order to drive up standards to a consistent level for people across the country.

I will continue to listen to the voices of people who access and deliver social care support as we go on this journey. Together we must build a system that is sustainable, future-proofed and ready to respond to the needs of our changing population.

Angela Constance, Minister for Drugs Policy

It was a huge privilege to attend the first National Care Service Forum and to share the platform across the day with people who so honestly and openly shared their experiences. 

Everyone in Scotland will be touched by the services that will be offered through a National Care Service at some point in their lives. That is why we must get it right for everyone.  We must see this as an opportunity to include people across society in a conversation about their needs and the outcomes they want. 

I was inspired by what I heard from people on the day about their experiences and ideas for the future. We need to continue to hear from voices across Scotland so we can learn from those with experience as we develop an organisation that works for everyone.

Together we can build a National Care Service that meets the needs of everyone in Scotland – for individuals, for families and for the Scotland of the future. And I am very much looking forward to carrying on this work.