Carers groups, councils, and trade unions had expressed concerns about the plans.
Plans for a flagship National Care Service outlined by the Scottish Government have been scrapped after objections from a number of stakeholders across Scotland.
The Bill to create a dedicated national service of care has been suspended, despite the Scottish Government claiming it remains committed to such a move.
SNP Ministers have ditched the first part of the Bill, which would form the new centralised service, but will continue with efforts to bring in reforms to care home visits and inspections.
Writing to Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Maree Todd MSP, confirmed the move.
She added: “The Scottish Government remains committed to the plans for a National Care Service, and work continues to progress this as quickly and effectively as possible.
“That work involves careful consideration of the views of this committee, stakeholders, members of the public and political parties.
“The Scottish Government wishes to take the time that is needed to fully reflect those views in our approach to Stage 2 of the Bill.
“For those reasons the Scottish Government is not seeking to start Stage 2 consideration of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill on 26 November, and will work with the committee and Parliamentary Bureau to agree a revised timetable, for the New Year.”
The move was welcomed by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), who had led calls for the proposals - which has so far cost £28million - to be scrapped.
STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said: “This is a deeply welcome move from the Scottish Government and one that the STUC and our social care sector have long demanded. It is correct that they have, albeit belatedly, listened to the voices around the table who urged them to see sense.
“The Bill, as it stands, was deeply flawed and had lost the confidence of workers and other sector partners. It does nothing to address the key weaknesses within the current system – low pay, insecure conditions, chronic staff retention and a complete overdependence on highly financialised, profit-driven providers.
“We can wipe the slate clean. Whilst we await full confirmation the Bill is dead for the foreseeable, that doesn’t mean we can’t implement the reforms our social care needs for the here and now.
“The vision for a national system of care can be realised. We aspire to it. To do so, the Scottish Government must meet us on that pathway, which includes paying our social care workers fairly and delivering a national care service designed for people, not for profit.”
