THE Scottish Parliament welcomed a report today that recommended an NHS-style national care service.

The independent review of adult social care has proposed scrapping fees for non-residential care, “a human-rights approach” to care and recognition of the “fundamental role of unpaid carers in society” with financial support.

SNP Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said that the Scottish government is seeking to implement the recommendations as soon as possible.

Ms Freeman said that the policies would be delivered by establishing “a national care service in law, on an equal footing with NHS Scotland,” with work towards residential care being fully funded.

On affordability of the policies, she said: “How can Scotland now not afford to?”

Scottish Labour leadership contender Monica Lennon said that the party has long held that “social-care support in Scotland should always be free at point of use.”

She said: “I welcome that social care is getting the attention it deserves.”

Ms Lennon also called for a £15 an hour wage for care workers, wages for unpaid kinship carers, and a public inquiry into how the social-care sector was affected during the coronavirus pandemic.

The independent review was chaired by Derek Feeley, a former Scottish government director general for health & social care and chief executive of NHS Scotland.

The Socialist Health Association (SHA) Scotland has set out the case for a health and care workers’ covenant — modelled on the existing armed forces covenant — to recognise the work of care workers during the pandemic. Elements of this could include commitments on pay and conditions, training, safety equipment and occupational health.

SHA Scotland secretary Dave Watson said: “Members of the public have shown their appreciation of health and care workers through the weekly clapping at the height of the pandemic.

“We now need to recognise workers with something more than just gratitude.”