Unpaid carers in Scotland to get access to PPE

Unpaid and family carers in Scotland will be given access to PPE supplies through a new hub, ministers have announced.

The Scottish Government has announced that from today (27 April), local hubs will distribute PPE supplies to the whole of the social care sector, including all social care providers, and unpaid or family carers and personal assistants.

The Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman said it wants to ‘ensure all social care providers have access to supplies from national NHS stock’.

‘In the coming weeks, we will collectively monitor how this model is operating, identifying challenges quickly and taking action as we deal with the evolving nature of the pandemic,’ she added.

The health and social care spokesperson for COSLA, Cllr Stuart Currie added: ‘Local government has worked with partners across the sector to develop this model to ensure those who are supporting vulnerable people within their communities and all parts of the workforce have access to the PPE they need.’

The Scottish Government has also confirmed more than 22,000 students and returning health and social care workers have come forward to support the NHS in its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The figure includes nearly 7,000 students in nursing and midwifery, medicine and the allied health professions and scientific disciplines.

In addition, there are almost 3,000 former social care workers, professionals and experienced healthcare workers returning from career breaks and retirement and individuals joining the NHS from the independent sector.

The Scottish Social Services Council is taking forward applications and pre-employment checks for the social care workforce, with 140 individuals now matched into roles and a further 225 ready and available for deployment.

‘This has been an outstanding response and we are working with NHS Education for Scotland and our boards to ensure returners and students are deployed as quickly and effectively as possible,’ added Ms Freeman.

Photo Credit – OrnaW (Pixabay)