Alt Urgell Council Approves Public Takeover of Home Care Service

The Alt Urgell County Council has approved handing management of its home care service (SAD) to the public company Iausa, marking the end of a years-long dispute that began when the service was outsourced to a private firm in 2019.

In an extraordinary plenary session yesterday, councillors voted to designate Iausa—a company fully owned by the council—as the direct management entity for the service. Council president Josefina Lladós described the move as a "bold and risky decision" aimed at improving a basic service that has struggled to expand in recent times. She argued it was the most logical step, noting that relicensing the contract—as other local bodies have done—would have been simpler but less committed to public control. While private firms can provide occasional support, she added, the previous arrangement with Suport Assistencial proved ineffective.

The decision passed despite some debate, sparked by a particular vote from Compromís councillor Toni Mas Buchaca, who abstained. Mas questioned whether assigning the service to Iausa truly amounted to full internalisation, given its status as a commercial entity rather than direct administration. He criticised the supporting memorandum for lacking a robust, auditable comparison with other direct management options, such as in-house staffing. He also raised concerns over persistent issues like part-time schedules, staff fragmentation, and unclear roles between prescribing, managing, and delivering the service, warning that the change might not resolve these or ensure consistent user-focused care.

Lladós countered that initial challenges were expected but the shift would ultimately benefit users.

SAD workers, who followed proceedings from the public gallery, expressed broad satisfaction after years of union campaigning against privatisation. One union spokesperson called it "the closest thing to municipalisation" possible, emphasising Iausa's full public ownership as a guarantee of total council oversight. While acknowledging some overlap with Mas's points—such as early worker concerns over fragmented shifts—they noted Iausa must integrate staff under existing conditions. Details like the full memorandum remain unpublished, limiting further comment.