Civil servants were told they could relax at work by cuddling pets and having dance parties at a £6,000 away day funded by the taxpayer.
Other fifteen minute “screen break” ideas included “putting your feet up with a cuppa” and going outside for Vitamin D.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: “It is complete hypocrisy for the SNP to waste our money whilst cutting budgets in health and social care to the bone, especially when we are facing a winter crisis of epic proportions.”
Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced on Wednesday around £1.2bn of “savings” to plug a massive budget black hole.
This involved taking £400m from health and social care and spending it differently in the same area.
Twenty four hours earlier Scottish Government staff working on social care and the troubled national care service (NCS) policy met for a bonding session.
It is understood 190 people attended the away day at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh which included a focus on “winter wellbeing”.
Emails show that an “interactive” session asked civil servants to generate ideas on looking after themselves.
One of two suggestions to be implemented immediately involves increasing the daily “free period” for staff from thirty minutes to one hour.
The other was a “screen break” which included eight ideas for how this time could be used by civil servants.
The list included nipping out for a coffee, stretching and yoga, listening to a podcast, and “indoor exercise”.
The away day cost the public purse £6,252.
The NCS policy has come under fire for allegedly costing too much and has been ripped apart by SNP MSPs.
SNP MSP Michelle Thomson likened the policy to signing a “blank cheque”.
Baillie blasted: "The Scottish Government has made eye-watering cuts to the health and social care budget at the same time as they are squandering money on development days that talk about ‘cuddling pets’ and ‘having dance parties.’
"This is clearly not a good use of money when the social care sector is facing huge challenges. Delayed discharge is increasing and social care workers are facing incredibly difficult working conditions.
Tory MSP Liz Smith said: “Eyebrows will be raised among the public at thousands being spent on this away day in the same week that swingeing cuts were made to the health and social care budget.
“The SNP seem hellbent on pressing ahead with their costly and damaging plans for a National Care Service despite the warnings from a whole range of stakeholders.
“Priorities appear to be skewed if money can be found for a jolly like this rather than diverting it towards protecting critical frontline local social care services.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “This event helped support collaborations and improvements in adult social care now and in the future. Scottish Government officials heard from users and providers of social care and discussions also covered the wellbeing and welfare of staff and the development of the National Care Service.
“There was a two minute session during which staff suggested ways to improve wellbeing in what can be a stressful environment.”
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