The Health Secretary has said the mixed model of social care provision in Scotland should be subject to a review.

Asked during today’s covid-19 press conference whether, in the light of investigations into deaths at a Skye care home, she would consider a “full-scale review” of the care home sector in Scotland, Jeane Freeman said a review would be “entirely right”.

“There needs to be a look at whether the way we currently have that mixed economy of provision of social care and care homes – where we have the private sector involved, we have the independent not for profit, third sector charities and public agencies through our local authorities all involved – whether that is the correct approach going forward.”

Among the issues that have risen up the political agenda during the pandemic is low pay in the sector.

Today the Government announced it was stepping in to guarantee one-off death-in-service payments to the families of any social care worker who dies as a result of covid-19, and to ensure employees receive more than statutory sick pay if they test positive for the virus.

As care homes continue to bear the brunt of the worst impacts of coronavirus, NHS boards have been told they have to take direct responsibility for the “daily support and oversight” of care homes across Scotland.

Legislation passed by MSPs on Wednesday secured additional powers for the Scottish Government and NHS to intervene in the day-to-day running of care homes.

Ms Freeman added: “I think it is entirely right that we review that and consider, with the public in Scotland, whether or not that should be changed, and is so, how it should be changed.

“And in what way should all of that be funded and taken forward so that we ensure we have the best quality of care for older people regardless of where they are; whether they are in a residential setting, their own home, in a hospital setting or with family.

“I do believe this is something we need to look to as we go forward. Right now though our focus is on dealing with this pandemic but I think it has shone a light on a number of areas where there have been improvements we want to hold on to, and other areas where we might want to look for improvements in the future.”

In an interview with healthandcare.scot last week, Scottish Care’s Karen Hedge said a national care service was not the answer to the problems brought to light during the pandemic.

The national director of Scotland’s largest care sector representative body warned against nationalising a sector she said must be centred on giving people a choice over how they live.  

An inquiry into the future shape of Scotland’s care sector by the Scottish parliament’s Health and Sport Committee has been paused due to the pandemic. After gathering evidence, the committee had been due to begin evidence sessions in the parliament during March.

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