Organisations and members of the public will now have an extra three weeks to share their views on the Scottish government’s proposed changes to the National Care Service Bill.

The health and social care committee has decided to keep its Call for Views open until the 20 of September, in response to a letter which raised concerns over the short timeframe for people to respond.

Third sector organisations and people with lived experience told the committee that the summer holidays and parliamentary recess, as well as numerous other consultations being open at the same time, have left them unable to properly respond.

Easy Read versions of both the consultation questions and the draft amendments to the Bill have not been published which is also causing challenges, according to the co-signed letter.

Rachel Cackett, chief executive of the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS), one of the cosignatories, said:

“We are delighted to see the committee extend the deadline for responses following a sector wide request. This change allows vital time for organisations to consider the amendments proposed.

“We are in unchartered water with this Bill and the scale of draft changes mean more time is needed to consider implications for reform. CCPS looks forward to submitting an evidenced and constructive response to the call for views.”

Many of the original proposals for a National Care Service have changed since the Bill was first introduced in 2021.

These include the introduction of a National Care Service Board and extensive reform of the integration authorities in charge of local social care provision.

Convener of the parliament’s health and care committee Clare Haughey MSP said it will be “essential” for MSPs to take the time to scrutinise these new proposals effectively, hearing from both the public and sector leaders.

The extended Call for Views will likely be followed by the committee taking oral evidence on the proposals in its meetings after parliament reconvenes in September.

Full list of co-signatories:

• Aileen Morton, Hospice UK, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer
• Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland
• Claire Cairns, Director, Coalition of Carers in Scotland
• Cosgrove Care
• Dr Jim Elder-Woodward OBE, Chair of the Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living and Co-Convenor of Inclusion Scotland
• George WM Grindlay, Individual
• Gordon Johnston, Chair, Vox Scotland
• The Rt.Hon. Sir Ian McCartney, Service User Representative
• Isabella Goldie, CEO, Deafblind Scotland
• James Jopling, Director, Parkinson's UK Scotland
• People First (Scotland)
• Rachel Cackett, CEO, Coalition of Care Providers in Scotland (CCPS)
• Robert Fraser, Chief Executive, The Scottish Centre for Children with Motor Impairments
• Sandra Auld, Chair of the Service User Reference Group, Perth & Kinross HSCP
• Sara Redmond, Chief Officer of Development, Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)
• Shared Care Scotland
• Tressa Burke, Chief Executive Officer, Glasgow Disability Alliance

Read more: Advisers kept in dark over care service plans; A timeline of Scotland’s National Care Service; New shape of National Care Service emerging

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