Reductions in social care support during lockdown, including the complete removal of help overnight, were “essential and inevitable”, the First Minister has told MSPs.

On Tuesday the Scottish Human Rights Commission said cuts to – and in some cases complete removal of – care packages earlier this year had a ‘direct and detrimental’ effect on people’s human rights.

One case included in the Commission’s report was that of a person left for hours at a time in their wheelchair without the help they needed to get dressed, leading to a ‘physical and mental breakdown’.

Nicola Sturgeon’s comments were in response to Labour Leader Richard Leonard raising the issue of social care cuts that he said had left many “in fear that temporary limitations become permanent limitations.”

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions today, Ms Sturgeon said her government would pay careful and close attention to the report.

“It is critical that people’s social care support is maintained. We are already working with local authorities, with Health and Social Care Partnerships to assure people that any temporary changes that were essential and inevitable as a result of covid should not become long term.

“It is important to stress that for wider safety reasons some of those changes in the short term were unavoidable.

“But is it critical that changes to support arrangements are discussed with the person affected, with unpaid carers, and the impact and duration considered very carefully.

“We continue to work not just with local authorities but with Scottish Care and others to address these concerns.

“As we continue to go through what continues to be challenging situation we will strive to continue to ensure the rights and the circumstances of the most vulnerable in our society are absolutely at the centre of our decision making.

Responding to the Commission’s report earlier this week a Scottish government spokesperson said reductions in care had been “necessary due to a reduction in workforce capacity as a result of workers self-isolating or being unwell”.

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