A total of £1.1bn has been pledged to help the NHS and social care in Scotland respond to covid-19.

But just £50m of this is ‘new’ money for the social care sector, healthandcare.scot can confirm – although the Scottish government says more cash will be on the way in November.

The funding is being allocated to health boards and health & social care partnerships (HSCPs) across the country to help them meet higher costs incurred because of the virus.

This includes staffing, enhanced infection prevention and control measures, and the purchase of PPE, according to government.

But how is £1.1bn being divided between health and social care?

From the total amount £150m is for social care – but this includes £100m already allocated in March and August, the Scottish government confirmed to healthandcare.scot.

A spokesperson said they will be reviewing social care funding again in November.

A breakdown of the funding published yesterday reveals NHS National Services Scotland, which has co-ordinated the buying and distribution of PPE, is the single biggest gainer with almost £400m under the plans.

Overall, regional and national health boards are set to gain £845m alongside £245m for HSCPs.

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, the biggest regional health board, will receive just over £100m with around £67m for HSCPs in the region.

Another £60m has been allocated to NHS Lothian and £29m for the area’s HSCPs, while £73m is pledged for NHS Lanarkshire and its associated partnerships.

Speaking to the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee earlier this week, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman suggested the funding had been distributed according to the covid-19 pressures each board was facing.

At the meeting the health secretary hinted at changes to how health boards are funded and reforms to Integration Joint Board (IJB) decision-making.

Richard McCallum, the Scottish government’s head of health finance, explained: “The allocation that’s been committed today includes all of the funding that Integration Joint Boards have estimated in relation to social care for the first quarter.”

MSPs were told that the Scottish government would be funding half of projected future social care costs up front with the rest provided after a review in November.

“So that’s about £150m that’s been allocated for social care as part of today’s commitment,” Mr McCallum added.

In March £50m was made available to care providers, followed by another £50m in August.

However care employers faced difficulties accessing the funds, with one council telling providers it could no longer meet requests.

Welcoming the announcement, Councillor Stuart Currie, COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson said: “HSCPs and social care providers have been working together in relation to the additional costs faced by the sector in very challenging circumstances. This funding announcement will ensure that this can continue.”

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