LABOUR has launched a consultation to overhaul Scotland’s “broken” social care system – calling for the sector to be run in model similar to the NHS.
The national care service plans by Scottish Labour would improve standards by delivering care through a publicly funding model similar to the National Health Service, the party has claimed.
Care homes in Scotland are currently operated by private companies, the independent sector and local authorities.
Scottish Labour is also speaking to trade unions and experts as part of its campaign to reform the sector and will draw up proposals for the overhaul over the summer.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Jeane Freeman scolds care home owners for not following guidance
During the Covid-19 crisis so far, 46 per cent of Scotland’s 4,173 deaths relating to conroavirus have taken place in care homes, according to the latest data from the National Records of Scotland.
Party leader Richard Leonard said: "People right across Scotland value social care but they know the current system is broken.
"It is all too clear that Scotland's fragmented care system needs radical reform."
He added: "For too long, people have been stuck in hospital because social care wasn't available, care home residents have been let down, families haven't been properly supported and staff have not received the pay and conditions they deserve.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Care home inspections only resumed after u-turn by 'light-touch' watchdog
"This pandemic has only made the need for reform more urgent and Scottish Labour's plans for a national care service are needed more than ever.
"So many of us have personal stories of the care sector and I would urge you to share your experiences with us and help shape the future of care in Scotland."
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel