THE First Minister has announced extra funding to support health and social care workers.

Nicola Sturgeon said that £500,000 will be given to health boards and social care partnerships to implement requests from staff, such as free hot drinks or snacks during breaks. She told the coronavirus briefing that it “could be the little things that help quite a lot”.

She added: “I’m flagging this up today just as a way of underlining how much we owe our health and care workers, but also as an example of what we’re trying to do to support them in practical ways while they continue to perform such an incredible service for all of us.

“I don’t think we’ll ever be able to repay those on the front line of health and social care for everything they have done and everything they have suffered over the duration of this pandemic.

“But in every way we can, it’s important to support them and to show our gratitude.”

The First Minister also mentioned a number of other key points in Scotland’s route out of the pandemic, including the Scottish Child Payment that is due to open on February 15 and she continued to encourage people to be safe while shopping.