CARE services in Argyll and Bute face risks regardless of whether a National Care Service is set up in Scotland or not, a Helensburgh councillor has warned.

Councillor Lorna Douglas (SNP, Helensburgh Central) was speaking during a debate on Scottish Government proposals for a Scotland-wide care service.

Members of the authority unanimously backed a consultation response, drafted by officials, which expressed disappointment at a lack of engagement, as well as other concerns.

Despite that, Councillor Douglas praised a vision that “puts forward some kind of consistency” and said that she bought into the proposals, while “taking on board” the concerns raised.

She told the meeting: “I really appreciate the work that has gone into this, and I also have to say that from my political viewpoint, some things we have read have been challenging.

“Globally there are changes going on and I cannot see an alternative vision at the moment. For me, I get this vision and buy into it.”

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But another Helensburgh councillor warned that the government’s plans could end up in a “fudge”.

Councillor Gary Mulvaney said: “I don’t share the Scottish Government’s centralising agenda. We have seen it with the police and the fire brigade and we see the influence, or lack of it, that we have on service delivery in our communities.

“Having said that, if this is something that is going to happen, we need to get something that is absolutely fit for purpose in terms of delivering outcomes for our constituents, patients, carers and those who need the services we currently provide.

“Is there any danger we will end up where we are just now, which is a halfway house, with two different organisations coming together?

“Could we end up with that sort of fudge instead of one employer, one service delivery and one set of outcomes that are pan-Scotland?

“My real plea is that if we lose the argument on principle, and the Government go ahead and do what they will, what impact can we have to ensure we don’t end up with a halfway house that doesn’t deliver for those who we represent?”

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The authority’s executive director Douglas Hendry said: “The short answer is that there is no guarantee that the scenario Cllr Mulvaney fears is not going to be what happens.

“The arrangements we currently have are a halfway house by the HSCP under the guidance of the IJB, but the employees remain under NHS Highland. It is not clear what the proposed final outcome would be if the proposals went forward. There is a real possibility that unless the Scottish Government were prepared to cut the ties with local authorities and health boards, it will be a fudge to an extent.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to delivering a National Care Service by the end of this parliament in order to end the postcode lottery in the provision of care services in Scotland.

“The Independent Review of Adult Social Care found the current way of working has not fully delivered the improvements intended to be achieved by integration of health and social care.

“We understand there is often a need for a different approach for people living in island and rural areas and the National Care Service will help ensure that is delivered.”