Another £50m has been promised by the Scottish Government to cover covid-related costs faced by care providers.

This is on top of £50m pledged in May to help with extra costs such as PPE, tougher infection measures, and, in care homes, a fall in income due to a reduced number of residents.

Care providers had to contend with “astronomical” prices for protective gear in the first months of the pandemic as usual supply routes failed, leading to fears that the virus could push some agencies over the edge.  

Speaking today Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I have been clear from the outset that we will meet any increasing need for social care as a result of the pandemic”.

“This additional financial support, together with the other measures we have put in place, I hope is a practical demonstration of our commitment to supporting the sustainability of the social care sector.

“I know it has been a hugely challenging time for social care staff and providers in dealing with what has been an unprecedented situation.”

Councillor Stuart Currie, Health and Social Care spokesperson for local government body COSLA, said: “COSLA welcomes the announcement from Scottish Government in relation to a further allocation of funding to enable Health and Social Care Partnerships to continue to support the social care sector in their pivotal role responding to covid-19.

“COSLA will continue to work closely with Scottish Government to ensure that resources are released to enable Partnerships to meet all reasonable costs identified within Local Mobilisation Plans to address the challenges currently being faced by the sector.”

At the start of the pandemic there were reports of people having their care and support cut back with little or no notice.

This was despite the Scottish Government describing the cuts as “not acceptable” because more funding was available to recruit more care workers. 

Last week Ms Freeman said she believes social care is in a “much better place” to deal with another rise in covid cases.

More people have died in Scotland’s care homes after contracting the virus than in hospitals, with covid-19 mentioned on the death certificates of nearly 1,900 people who were care home residents.

Earlier this month the Scottish Human Rights Commission urged the Government to investigate whether the human rights of people in care homes were breached in the handling of covid-19.

A formal public inquiry into ‘every aspect’ of the covid crisis has been promised by Nicola Sturgeon.

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