Scottish Government
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Commitment to care
Developing intermediate care services.
Health Secretary
Alex Neil has committed to continue to strengthen care services and support for
carers.
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament Mr Neil outlined plans to identify what
additional support may be needed for specialist intermediate care services,
which help people get out of hospital sooner and prevent unnecessary
admissions.
The move is part of a series of measures Mr Neil announced to improve care
standards and include:
- consultation on the regulations for joint working across health and social care
- consultation on national care standards
- review of the methods used to inspect care with a focus on how well services are respecting the rights of patients
- joint work with COSLA and health boards to transform residential care and supported housing
- examine services for people under 65 with complex care needs to ensure they receive the support they need
- encouraging the sector to guarantee social care workers the living wage, including consideration of statutory guidance for remuneration.
Mr Neil said:
“Providing care for those who need it is at the heart of the actions of
this Government. As Health Secretary, I am often overwhelmed and amazed by the
compassion and commitment to patient care that our health and social care staff
bring to the job every day.
“This is something that we should be rightly proud of in Scotland –
and something I want to enhance in the future.
“Caring for a loved one, or making decisions about the care they need,
can be extremely difficult and worrying. I believe these carers’
dedication must be recognised.
“That is why this Government is championing the need for greater support
for our carers by bringing forward legislation for them.
“We also want more transparent and fairer access to care services. We are
already working well with health boards and COSLA on taking forward
transformation of residential care and will ask them to look at services
provided to people under 65.
"All of these changes are about securing the lasting improvements we all
want to see across our care sector.”
