As it embarks on the next stage of an inquiry into social care, Holyrood’s Health Committee says it is vital people who receive support are at the heart of any future reforms.

The committee has already heard evidence on care homes and care at home and is now moving to the ‘next phase’ of its inquiry.

This is in parallel to an ongoing review of social care set up to consider a national care service that will report in early 2021.

Ahead of an evidence session later today, Committee Convener Lewis Macdonald said the pandemic had offered an opportunity to “reimagine” how social care is accessed and delivered.

This stage of the inquiry will see MSPs hear from people on delivering and benefitting from support, he added.

The committee is taking evidence from Eddie Fraser, Chief Officer of East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, and Annie Gunner Logan, Director of the third sector care representative body the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland.

Also joining the roundtable is Professor David Bell of the University of Stirling, a finance expert who has advised a number of care and ageing review groups.

Ahead of the meeting, Lewis Macdonald MSP, said: “The impact of the pandemic has been felt right across society but nowhere more than in our social care sector.

“There is no doubt this pandemic provides us with an opportunity to reimagine how social care is accessed and delivered, and to challenge the traditional model of care.

“Tuesday’s meeting marks the start of the next phase of our inquiry as we hear from various experts about how we can create a sustainable and modern care system.

“Our committee is determined to find workable and innovative solutions to help shape this system which must adapt to meet the demands of the 21^st century.”

“Throughout this inquiry we will be hearing from those receiving and delivering care and it is vital that their needs are at the heart of any system re-design.”

The Scottish government has said it will soon publish an adult social care winter plan to try to strike a better balance between protecting people from covid and contact between families and loved ones.

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