UNISON Scotland today hit out at Scottish councils for commissioning 15-minute homecare visits to elderly and vulnerable people.
A Freedom of Information request shows that 28 Scottish councils commission such short visits.
UNISON wants the UK and Scottish governments to ban 15-minute slots, and is urging councils to sign up to the union’s ethical care charter.
Scottish secretary Mike Kirby said: “Austerity cuts are piling pressure onto an overstretched system. But it is entirely wrong that in a supposedly civilised society councils are commissioning 15-minute homecare appointments.
“Any member of the public can understand that 15 minutes is not enough to provide even the most basic care, let alone care for very frail clients. People with dementia also find the rush of such short visits particularly distressing.”
Mr Kirby added: “We want councils to sign up to our ethical care charter and to say that the time allocated to visits will be matched to the needs of the clients. There should be an initial review of all visits under 30 minutes.
“UNISON believes that 15-minute visits exemplify a care on the cheap system, when we should be providing quality public services which ensure respect and dignity for the most vulnerable.”
While three Scottish councils – Angus, Falkir and Glasgow City – do not commission 15-minute visits, the constraints of t contract prices can still mean that is what happens in practice.
UNISON’s Freedom of Information requests to councils did not cover Highland ciybcuk, as the integrated service comes under the health service.
