Scotland's election: Nicola Sturgeon vows to scrap all charges for care and support at home

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is promising to scrap all non-residential social care charges as part of a new National Care Service, if she is re-elected.

The Scottish leader’s SNP party has promised in its manifesto to ‘abolish charges for non-residential care’, if the party wins the election this May.

The SNP leader said the move to make social care free would be part of the National Care Service which she will establish in the next parliamentary term.

Meals on wheels, supported living assistance - 'they should not be charged for them'

During a visit to a pharmacy, earlier this month, Nicola Sturgeon said: “Fundamentally, if for someone’s care they require the care services of things like meals on wheels, community wardens, lunch clubs, supported living assistance or community alarms and laundry – then they should not be charged for them.

“Reforms that were already important before the pandemic have become absolutely essential.

“For the staff delivering social care services, we’ll never be able to thank them enough for their work during the pandemic. We’re delivering them a £500 thank-you bonus, but we want to go further.”

The SNP election manifesto pledged to take forward the recommendations of the independent Feeley Review into adult social care and establish the National Care Service.

The new National Care Service will oversee the delivery of care, improve standards, training and staff pay and conditions while giving support for unpaid carers.

Nicola Sturgeon’s government has already extended free personal and nursing care in Scotland to everyone who needs it, regardless of age.

Almost 10,000 families in Scotland have benefited from the introduction of free personal care for everyone who requires it. It is known as ‘Frank’s Law’ after the campaign led by footballer Frank Kopel’s widow Amanda. The policy took effect in April 2019.

The SNP leader is now promising in its manifesto to introduce a national wage for care staff ‘and enter into national pay bargaining for the sector based on fair work principles for the first time’.

The SNP party has also pledged to appoint a new Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodiversity Commissioner to champion the rights of people with learning disabilities and autism.

Scotland will also get a new National Clinical Lead for Palliative and End of life Care.

Over one million Scots now enjoy free bus travel across the country, including over-60s and disabled people. The SNP has promised to protect free eye examinations and free prescriptions in Scotland

The SNP wants to introduce Carer’s Assistance to replace the current Carer’s Allowance in a bid to increase the value of the payment ‘provided we can guarantee UK benefit clawbacks won’t leave carers worse off’.

Scottish Conservatives to ‘avoid any unnecessary structural reforms’

Douglas Ross leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party said in his party’s manifesto: ‘We support many of the recommendations and principles set out in the review [Feeley review into social care], including introducing national employment conditions for staff and viewing the social care system as an equal partner to the NHS.

‘However, we share COSLA’s concerns about the proposed governance and accountability changes which would lead to significant centralisations.

'We would maintain local democratic accountability of the social care system and avoid any unnecessary structural reforms. We believe local authorities are best able to deliver high-quality person centred social care as part of a whole system approach'.

The party promised to ‘fully implement Frank’s Law’ and ensure ‘adequate support’ for people with dementia, while increasing investment in dementia research. It pledged that everyone with advanced dementia would get an individual assessment of their health and care needs and said it would review what changes are required to ensure personal and nursing care payments ‘sufficiently cover the cost of care’.

The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party pledged to develop a national plan for palliative care 'to ensure everyone can access the support they need whether they die in hospital, a hospice, a care home or at home.’

Scottish Labour promises £12 an hour for care workers

The Scottish Labour party leader Anas Sarwar said Labour MSPs will fight for an immediate pay rise for care workers of £12 per hour.

Scottish Greens have said Green MSPs will campaign for all care workers to be paid significantly above the Living Wage financed by progressive taxation not care charges. Green councillors in City of Edinburgh Council proposed to pay a ‘Living Wage Plus’ of £9 an hour to social care staff and Green MSPs want this to be introduced across Scotland.

Scottish Liberal Democrats: 'fair pay' for care workers

Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Willie Rennie has promised in his party’s manifesto to introduce national care standards and ‘fair pay’ for all social care staff.

Age Scotland has published its own election manifesto, urging the next Scottish Government to support the older population and appoint an Older People’s Commissioner with powers to hold public bodies to account and tackle ageism across Scotland.

Brian Sloan, Age Scotland’s chief executive, said: “Our main ask at this election is for the next Scottish Government and parliament is to establish an Older People’s Commissioner to help protect and promote their rights.

"Over the last year we have seen just how important this role has been in Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, along with a cabinet secretary and minister responsible for older people, this new commissioner would be incredibly valuable."

Age Scotland also called for action on tackling loneliness and social isolation; rebuilding public services and voluntary organisations impacted during the pandemic; reforming social care and boosting health services; ending pensioner poverty and health inequalities.

Age Scotland added: "There must be better support for older workers, creating age inclusive workplaces; and a national effort to tackle ageism head on.

“Scotland’s older population is growing at a faster rate than the rest of the UK. We want to see every political party in this election bring forward policies to help our older population, those in the greatest need above all, and for Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow older.”

Scottish Care, which represents care providers has also published a manifesto which has called for an overhaul in the way home care is commissioned and more funding to support independent living.

It states that home care commissioning and contracting between authorities and providers has been 'one-sided' and prevents opportunities for open collaboration to stimulate innovation, maximize potential and reduce bureaucracy.

The Scottish Parliament's election takes place on 6 May.