NICOLA Sturgeon is vowing to scrap all non-residential social care charges as part of a new National Care Service.
The First Minister is also highlighting her party’s delivery of free prescription charges, compared to fees of £9.35 in England.
If re-elected to government, the SNP say they will introduce legislation for the National Care Service in the first year of parliament.
In a visit to a pharmacy, Sturgeon will say: ”The principle that drove us to scrap prescription charges was simple – health care services should be free and based on the care you need, not your ability to pay.
“That same principle is what drives us to abolish non-residential social care charges for people of all ages. Fundamentally, if for someone’s care they require the care services of things like meals on wheels, community wardens, lunch clubs, supported living assistance or community alarms and laundry – then they should not be charged for them.”
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The First Minister is to argue that reforming health and social care is a necessity as Scotland recovers from the coronavirus crisis.
“Reforms that were already important before the pandemic have become absolutely essential,” she will add.
“For the staff delivering social care services, we’ll never be able to thank them enough for their work during the pandemic. We’re delivering them a £500 thank-you bonus – but we want to go further.
“If re-elected, the SNP will immediately begin work for introducing a National Care Service, to deliver better and more consistent care across the country – as well as a National Wage for Care staff and, for the first time, national pay bargaining for the sector.”
The pledge to abolish non-residential social care fees will form part of the SNP’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the independent Feeley Review into Adult Social Care in Scotland.
Towards the end of the last Parliament, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman secured parliamentary backing to implement this “…as quickly as practicable.”
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