The First Minister has announced the immediate establishment of a “comprehensive independent review of adult social care” that will create the foundations of a national care service.

Setting out her Programme from Government that will run until next May’s Scottish Parliament elections, Nicola Sturgeon praised the “extraordinary professionalism, dedication and compassion” of all those working in the sector.

But, she said, the covid-19 crisis had underlined the need for improvement and reform.

“The review will seek the views of those with direct experience of adult social care and make recommendations for immediate improvement.

“However, more fundamentally, it will examine and set out options for the creation of a national care service.”

Ms Sturgeon told the parliament that she expected the review team to produce its first report by January to allow the government to start to act quickly on its findings.

She drew parallels with the creation of the national health service:

“The quality of adult social care is something that matters deeply to all of us.

“This is a moment to be bold and to build a service fit for the future.

“The National Health Service was born out of the tragedy of World War II. Let us resolve that we will build out of the covid crisis the lasting and positive legacy of a high quality national care service for all that need it.”

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