THE Scottish Government has been urged to establish a national care service on an equal footing with the NHS. The recommendation came in the long-awaited Independent Review of Adult Social Care led by Derek Feeley, a former Scottish Government director-general for health and social care and chief executive of NHS Scotland. He said: “There is a gap, sometimes a chasm, between the intent of that ground-breaking legislation and the lived experience of people who need support. “We have inherited a system that gets unwarranted local variation, crisis intervention, a focus on inputs, a reliance on the market, and an undervalued workforce.
Review backs National Care Service and end of charging for non-residential care home fees An independent review that was prompted by the catastrophic impact of the pandemic on care homes has called for the creation of a National Care Service on an equal footing with NHS Scotland . Derek Feeley’s report makes more than 50 recommendations for radical changes to adult social care which include national improvement programmes to raise standards in care homes and the appointment of a Minister for Social Care to oversee improvements. The report recommends that the National Care Service should also ensure enhanced pay, terms and conditions for the social care workforce and provide better support for carers.
The national care service would aim to improve standards across all parts of the sector (PA)
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A national care service should be established in Scotland on an equal footing with the NHS, a review has found.
A report by the Independent Review of Adult Social Care called for a new national service that reports to Scottish ministers.
It would oversee delivery of social care, aim to improve standards, ensure enhanced pay and conditions for workers and provide better support for carers.
A NATIONAL drugs taskforce is to prioritise emergency response in reducing drug-related deaths. Meeting for the first time, the Drug Deaths Taskforce – which includes the First Minister – is working to reduce drug-related deaths in Scotland by introducing new policies and building on existing ones. Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance said the taskforce hoped to build on the momentum already in place to support those living with addiction. Constance said: “Meeting the taskforce for the first time was a key opportunity for me to recognise the hard work that has already been done, and to hear ideas of how we can build on the plans we have.
Councillor John Spence
- Credit: Essex County Council
Residents who are classed as clinically extremely vulnerable are again being advised to shield in order to protect against catching Covid-19.
The new guidance includes to stay at home at all times, unless for exercise or medical appointments, and not to attend work, even if they are unable to work from home.
The National Shielding Service has been reactivated and at a local level, Essex Wellbeing Service can provide residents with a single point of access to practical, emotional and specialist support. Practical support ranges from help accessing priority supermarket shopping slots, volunteers collecting medicines and befriending support via a phone buddy.