FOOD CHARGES ABOLISHED FOR FREE PERSONAL CARE.

FOOD CHARGES ABOLISHED FOR FREE PERSONAL CARE.

The SNP Government has today abolished food preparation charges for those elderly people receiving free personal care.

The initial legislation left confusion over whether food preparation was included within the entitlement to free personal care. Legislation from the SNP Government comes into force today ensuring no local authority can charge those receiving free personal care for food preparation.

Free Personal Care also receives its full funding allocation today as the Scottish Government increase funding for the scheme by £40 million – making up a shortfall that has existed since the policy was first implemented in 2002.

SNP MSP and Health Committee Convener Christine Grahame welcomed the move which will lift a financial burden from some of Scotland’s pensioners.

Ms Grahame said;

“From today no council will be able to charge for food preparation – that is excellent news for Scotland’s pensioners.

“Free personal care has been an excellent programme but it has been both under funded and lacking clarity over exactly what was “free”.

“Charging for food preparation is an anomaly that grew from the system introduced by the previous administration and should have been rectified long ago.

“In my own area Scottish Borders council have been charging for food preparation – money many pensioners can ill afford.

“Ending charges for food preparation and filling the funding black hole left by Labour show the SNP is bringing real improvements for Scotland’s pensioners.”