Nicola Sturgeon appeared to leave the door open for the nationalisation of care homes when she was challenged over low-paid workers in the sector.
Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government would support Labour proposals for financial help for care workers battling the coronavirus when the subject was raised at First Minister’s Questions.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard raised the “scandal” of care workers who test positive for Covid-19 being penalised financially while self-isolating.
Mr Leonard said many care workers were on unsecured contracts and many were low paid, while those who are ill or need to self-isolate will receive only statutory sick pay, which is £95.85 a week, a sum that the GMB had described as a “scandal”.
In response, Ms Sturgeon said Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has reached an agreement with Labour MSP Monica Lennon about supporting affected staff workers.
The first minister revealed that Scottish Government would support Ms Lennon’s proposal to create a fund to provide financial assistance to workers in the social care sector whose employment has been affected by the pandemic.
Stressing the majority of care workers were not employed by NHS Scotland, the First Minister said: “Without pointing the finger at anybody or trying to pass the buck, I do think it’s really important we work with employers to make sure employers are doing the right thing and fulfilling their duties towards the staff who work for them.”
The first minister went on to suggest that the care home sector could be in line for more radical change, a stance that will fuel speculation that nationalisation could be considered by ministers.
I think that questions are now being raised about the appropriateness and fitness for purpose of that model in the long term.”
Nicola Sturgeon
“The model of social care in Scotland has not fundamentally changed under this government; it has been in place for a long, long time,” Ms Sturgeon said.
“Without going into the matter in too much detail right now, because there has to be further discussion and thinking, I think that questions are now being raised about the appropriateness and fitness for purpose of that model in the long term, and I am sure that we will come back to those issues in due course as a parliament and as a society.”
