It comes as First Minister John Swinney was warned the social care sector was at an “apocalyptic” stage by 240 third sector organisations, with 61% of providers at risk of imminent closure.
Dr Macaskill told The Herald that urgent talks were needed with the Scottish Government – however he said it appeared that ministers had gone on holiday while the sector “struggles to make ends meet”.
In an exclusive interview with The Herald on Sunday, Mr Gray rejected the notion that social care was the “Cinderella service” to the NHS.
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However, he said the sector was facing significant challenges, exacerbated by UK Government policies on immigration and national insurance contributions.
While he recognised the “pressures” facing social care, he said government officials have been taking the summer to “consider” the next steps.
“I can understand the pressure there is in social care because I have had significant engagement with the sector,” he said.
“We have been looking at the financial position in social care and looking at how between local government and the Scottish Government, we can provide support to the sector.
“Given the stretched finances, both within the Scottish Government, and local government, that has not been an easy picture to resolve but it’s one that we are determined to do all we can to support the social care system.”
Mr Gray said social care provision had increased by 25%, years ahead of schedule and the Scottish Government had now invested record levels, with £21.7 billion allocated in the 2025-26 budget.
However, Scotland now has an increasingly ageing population, with new figures revealing the number of births had dipped to its lowest number in 169 years, while the gap between births and deaths is expected to rise to 27,400 by 2047.
That exacerbates the problems facing the sector, with demand for care now excessively high.
Mr Gray told The Herald on Sunday that he would continue to engage with social care providers.
However, this newspaper sought clarity on whether Mr Gray accepted responsibility for a ‘summer of inactivity’ accusations.
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He said: “We have been engaging. We have had a series of in-depth engagements.
“But I can understand why, given the consideration that is now being given by both national and local government as to what is possible, why that would feel like there has been a lack of engagement.
“But that is as we try to find a way of responding to the situation which they are telling us about, which is an increasing level of demand upon their services, an ageing population with increased frailty, increased costs and a reduced ability to be able to staff it with restrictions on people coming into the country to work in social care.
“We know that a large proportion of our social care workforce comes from overseas. We rely upon that migrant labour to continue.
“So I recognise all of these pressures. Some of that are within the control of government and local government, others are not.
“But we have been taking the time over summer to consider how we can provide the support that they need to continue to sustain the services that there are.”
Dr Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care. (Image: Colin Mearns) Dr Macaskill said the recognition was welcome but said the sector cannot wait any longer for action.
“I welcome the Cabinet Secretary’s recognition of the severity of the issues and that despite the increase in funding to date that that is not enough, and the crisis is only escalating and getting worse, in part because of actions in Westminster but also because of the growing demand for social care services.
“We look forward to hearing about the outcomes of these summer long discussions between national and local government.
“But to put it simply, those who are waiting for services and who have waited weeks and weeks and weeks, those who are seeing their packages of homecare cut of their care home close beds, those who work in social care services and who are increasingly feeling devalued, and those who provide lifeline care and support in our communities as organisations cannot wait much longer for the talk to stop.
“We urgently need action, we need investment and we need it now.”
In the open letter to Mr Swinney, third sector organisations warned vulnerable Scots will die and families will face intolerable burdens.
