First Minister aims to set up National Care Service as ‘lasting legacy’ of Covid

NICOLA Sturgeon has announced a review of adult social care with the aim of creating a National Care Service in Scotland.

The First Minister said the service could be a “lasting and positive legacy” of the coronavirus crisis, similar to the creation of the NHS after the Second World War.

Ms Sturgeon told MSPS the pandemic has “underlined the need for improvement and reform” of the care sector.

Speaking as she set out her government’s plans for the next year, Ms Sturgeon said: “The quality of adult social care is something that matters deeply to us all. This is a moment to be bold and to build a service fit for the future.

“The National Health Service was born out of the tragedy of World War Two.

“Let us resolve that we will build out of this Covid-19 crisis the lasting and positive legacy of a high-quality National Care Service.”

Care homes have been on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis, with nearly half of all deaths linked to them. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman later confirmed the review will be chaired by Derek Feeley, former director general of health and social care in the Scottish Government, and will report by January 2021.

Adult social care takes in a wide variety of services including care homes and community support. The sector supports more than 200,000 people across Scotland.

Ms Freeman said: “This will be a wide ranging review of all aspects of a service which supports and involves so many people across Scotland.”

She added: “This independent review will examine how adult social care can be most effectively reformed to deliver a national approach to care and support services – and this will include consideration of a National Care Service.”

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, who has been campaigning for the creation of a National Care Service, said: “Over the past six months, no part of our society has been more tragically hit by Covid-19 than our care homes.

“Today’s announcement of a review is a welcome signal of intent. But time is running out.”

He called on Ms Sturgeon to “confirm not only that she intends to create a National Care Service, but that she will act immediately to level up the terms and conditions of the workforce, and that, as with our National Health Service, the profit motive will be removed from the care of our oldest and most vulnerable citizens”.