EXTRA FUNDING TO HELP NHS LOTHIAN RESPOND TO PANDEMIC

SNP GOVERNMENT INVESTING £1.1 BILLION ACROSS SCOTLAND’S HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SECTOR

Health and social care services in Lothian are to receive an additional £89 million from the SNP Government to support the local response to the Coronavirus pandemic and prepare for winter.

The extra funding has been allocated to help local services meet COVID-19 related costs such as additional staffing or sickness expenditure, enhanced infection prevention and control measures, and the purchase of PPE.

Welcoming the news, SNP MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Colin Beattie said:

“Coronavirus is the single greatest public health crisis of our lifetimes, and in recent months our health and social care sector has been there to protect us.

“As we approach winter, the SNP Government is taking action to ensure local services have the capacity to deal with Coronavirus and the wider pressures of the colder seasons.

“From consultants to cleaners, carers to nurses, hospital porters to delivery drivers; thousands of people across Lothian have been working tirelessly in our health service to keep us safe and overcome the challenges of this pandemic.

“As your local MSP, I want to send every one of you my sincere thanks. While this is a tough time for all of us, let’s not forget that by continuing to work together, we will beat this virus.”