MSP vows to continue bid for £15 hourly pay rate for care staff
dailyrecord.co.ukSocial care workers are "undervalued" says a Renfrewshire politician who has vowed to continue "the fight for 15".Paul O'Kane blasted the "measly" 48 pence rise for the sector announced last December and says workers deserve a £15 per hour sum.Labour's Shadow Minister or Public Health and Social Care, Paul O'Kane, made the remarks during a Holyrood debate on social care.The Barrhead-based West Scotland MSP told the 'Keeping Care Close to Home and Improving Outcomes' session that the Scottish Government's "unfettered optimism” is in stark contrast with the reality of health and social care provision, citing record levels of delayed discharge, poor A&E performances as well lack of support for GP service provision.Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire.
Sign up to our newsletters here.Health boards, including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, blame problems with delayed discharge for contributing to problems with A&E provision at sites such as Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital.
O’Kane took time in his speech to talk about the challenges facing social care before noting the Scottish Government is “doing little to make social care a more appealing career choice”.
The Scottish Labour MSP also said that the pay increase didn’t reflect the “skilled nature” of social care work and said he growing staffing crisis will never be addressed while people can still earn more working in supermarkets and pubs.
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