Jackie Baillie has demanded that social care staff are given a rise in their mileage rate after the Scottish Government confirmed it intends to increase fuel allowance for NHS staff.

This comes after the Dumbarton constituency MSP met with the RCN and Unite trade unions and wrote to Cabinet Secretary for Health, Humza Yousaf, to raise the plight of NHS and care workers.

Ms Baillie also held a meeting with social care staff from West Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh recently with many of them saying the rising costs associated with their jobs had them questioning whether it was worth continuing to work within the care sector.

This was despite the fact they all said they enjoyed the role and being able to care for people who needed their support.

Following the Scottish Government’s move to increase the mileage rate for NHS staff, the Scottish Labour health spokesperson said: “This is an undeniably welcome move and is a step in the right direction.

“But without a similar commitment for care workers, the Scottish Government will be failing to tackle the crisis in our care system.

“Our underpaid care workers, a number of whom I have spoken to, are bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis, with some being forced to choose between heating and eating.

“We simply cannot allow care workers, like those in West Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh, to spend vast amounts of their wages travelling to see their elderly clients.

“That’s why the Scottish Government must act to increase the mileage allowance for thousands of care workers immediately to prevent the crisis in social care deepening.

“These are key workers who provide a vital service on behalf of local, and by extension, national government.

“The SNP simply cannot turn a blind eye to care workers and those they care for by leaving them behind.”