How is the SNP improving social care services?
Free personal care for older people is one of the landmark achievements of devolution. Nearly 78,000 people over the age of 65 benefit from free personal care in Scotland.
Since the SNP has been in Government, it has been possible for more people requiring care to be cared for in their own homes. In 2014, Scotland became the only UK nation to legislate for the integration of Health and Social Care bodies, and there are now 31 Health and Social Care Partnership areas in Scotland, managing more than £8 billion of resources.
The Scottish Government produced a Health and Social Care Delivery Plan to set out clear actions and milestones, backed with dedicated funding of over £125 million over 2017/18. In January, an additional £107 million for health and social care integration was announced to ensure more people are able to be cared for safely in their own homes and avoid preventable admissions to hospital.
We will now go further and fully implement Frank’s Law, providing free personal care for those under 65 who are assessed as needing it.