Local SNP MSP Stuart McMillan has welcomed an initial £785,000 funding to help the social care sector in Inverclyde deal with the financial implications of coronavirus.
The Scottish Government confirmed the funding as part of a £50 million package for the sector across the country.
The funding will help address immediate challenges faced in the social care sector and support ongoing provision of social care.
Health and Social Care Partnerships across Scotland have all put in place mobilisation plans to ensure the health and social care system is as well placed as possible to address the Covid-19 pandemic.
Commenting, Stuart said:
“The social care sector is at the frontline of the current pandemic and will inevitably face additional costs.
“This funding demonstrates the Scottish Government’s commitment to social care – and will ensure that any increasing need for social care as a result of the pandemic is met.
“Funding is usually based on an area’s population share, but this level of funding is greater than what Inverclyde would expect to receive based on this formula. This is positive news as it indicates that the Scottish Government is diverting more funds to Inverclyde given the area’s higher than average COVID-19 related death rate.
“There are signs that the numbers of deaths locally and across Scotland are decreasing, but even when we are through the worst of this pandemic, Inverclyde needs additional resource to resolve the underlying issues that contributed to our high death rate in the first place.
“I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone in Inverclyde when I share my gratitude towards those working in social care, and all of our frontline key workers, who are doing vital work in the most difficult of circumstances.”
Stuart McMillan MSP 