Lib Dems respond to Scottish Care Chief Exec comments 

Responding to comments made by the Chief Executive of Scottish Care Donald Macaskill on the BBC’s Sunday Show, where he highlighted the “increasing pattern of rural and remote care homes in particular not being able to sustain themselves, and actually closing”, as he urged both governments “to address the crisis in social care in Scotland today”, Liberal Democrat MP for Inverness Angus MacDonald said: 

“This is a damning verdict on the state of social care in Scotland. 

“Families are suffering and people can't get the support they desperately need. They are stuck in limbo in hospital beds and it's ramping up pressure in our NHS. 

“Liberal Democrats are the only party with a realistic plan to fix this crisis. We need to invest in community care, including in the West Highlands, where I have called for four new homes to be built with onsite staff accommodation. 

“We also want the UK Government to exempt care providers from their national insurance hike and introduce a new minimum wage for care workers that is £2 higher than the national minimum wage. That’s how we can attract more people into the profession and get everyone the care they need at home or in the community.”