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Government commissions day services audit |
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The Scottish government has asked for an audit of adult day and respite services across all Scotland’s local authorities, amid concerns vital council-run social care services remain closed after being suspended at the beginning of the pandemic.
Kevin Stewart, the Minister for Social Care, yesterday told parliament that the Health Minister had written to COSLA to request a nationwide audit “with a view to finding out which services have reopened and which have only partially opened or opened with reduced capacity”.
The news came in response to concerns that local authority-run day centres have not reopened at the same rate as those run by third-sector or voluntary organisations, raised by Renfrewshire MSP Natalie Don.
Mr Stewart said improved infection prevention measures meant it was now “vital that services return to a new normal” in line with current guidance.
A survey of more than 8,000 carers revealed covid-19 and staff shortages has led to as many as 70% of unpaid carers facing reduced or closed day services. Half were worried critical support would soon be reduced even more in the face of funding cuts.
A researcher from the Fraser of Allander Institute, who led a similar study into people with disabilities and their carers’ experiences during the pandemic, told healthandcare.scot last autumn:
“It’s almost as if everyone knows that support won’t be returning back to normal but no one is properly having that conversation about what that means for people who draw on that – it all feels a bit under the radar.”
The Fraser of Allander research found none of the unpaid carers of adults with learning disabilities had seen their support return to pre-pandemic levels, even as Scotland at that time had already moved ‘beyond level 0’.
COSLA has been approached for comment.
Read more: Funding call as day services remain closed; Learning disability support cuts “under the radar”; Learning disability support cuts leave families adrift
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