SNP-led Fife Council’s plans to privatise care homes were branded “untenable” after First Minister Alex Salmond attacked such moves.
The SNP leader appeared to indirectly condemn the local authority’s controversial decision as he was questioned on social care provision by Labour leader Iain Gray at Holyrood on Thursday.
Mr Salmond said the uncertainty caused by the ongoing financial crisis at private care provider Southern Cross should be a “cautionary note” for those who want to privatise social care.
He said, “I would have thought that given the difficulties when a private company is on the brink of administration and the position that leaves vulnerable people in within social care or the health service it should be a cautionary note for those who seem to think that private intervention is a solution in the health service or social care service.”
The embarrassing development came amid continued local anger at Fife Council’s decision to close all 10 of its homes and replace them with purpose-built accommodation run by the private sector.
The council said the existing homes were not “fit for purpose” and that it was not financially feasible to keep them open, although a consultation revealed the majority of residents and their families wanted them retained.
The decision was voted for by SNP councillors at the local authority and backed by the region’s Nationalist parliamentary candidates during the election campaign.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Claire Baker, who has been campaigning for the council to reverse its decision, said Mr Salmond’s remarks meant the plans were now “untenable”.
“I was very surprised by Mr Salmond’s comments because I wrote to him in early March asking his views on the council’s decision to privatise care homes, but I’m yet to receive a reply,” said the Labour MSP.
“He is suggesting that he disagrees with the complete privatisation of care, but that is exactly what the SNP-led council in Fife is looking to do.
“I would urge him to join me in explicitly calling for a rethink to this decision.
“I believe it was the wrong decision and the situation with Southern Cross just shows they need to reconsider it.”
But the SNP’s Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker, who is also a Fife councillor, insisted the eventual care homes would be of the “highest possible standards”.
He said, “The First Minister is right to say that the difficulties of Southern Cross are a cautionary tale.
“The SNP has raised previously the need for councils and the regulator to have a strong role in overseeing any private providers and to have early warning of any problems with their finances.”