Dumfries and Galloway unpaid carers save economy £482m a year

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Unpaid carers across Dumfries and Galloway save the Scottish economy labour costs of £482.4 million each year.

Based on an analysis of statistics from Scotland’s Census 2022, the figure comes from a new report launched on Tuesday by Carers Scotland and the Centre for Care.

The report, Valuing Carers: 2022, Scotland, further estimates the value of unpaid carers in Scotland as a whole stands at £15.9 billion – a 19.4 per cent increase in their contribution since 2011.

In context, the NHS budget for Scotland in 2022/2023 was £17.8 billion.

The figures also add weight to claims that Scotland’s unpaid carer population is growing, with an increase in both the number of unpaid carers and in the intensity of the care they provide.

Richard Meade, director of Carers Scotland, said: “Unpaid carers are the backbone of our health and social care system and without them the system would simply collapse. The figures of £15.9 billion in equivalent support every year is staggering.”

He said that the research demonstrates the “significant contribution” that carers currently make in providing care and support to family members, friends and neighbours who couldn’t get by without that help.

Mr Meade also pointed out that two thirds of all people living in Scotland “will one day take on an unpaid caring role” – and what it would cost the state to replace the care they provide.

The report also makes a range of recommendations to better support unpaid carers, urging a “critical need” for the Scottish Government to provide increased investment in social care and breaks from caring; to improve financial support; and to ensure health services identify and promote carers’ health and wellbeing.

The Carers Scotland director said: “We must do so much more to support unpaid carers as they provide this care, as well as treating them with the dignity and respect they deserve, and truly valuing them for what they do.

“The reality is that, despite this enormous contribution, too many unpaid carers face a cost to their financial security, health and career. Asking unpaid carers to make such a significant contribution to our society without providing the right support to help them in their caring role is both unjust and unfair.

“We must do much more to support our unpaid carers to ensure they have a good quality of life alongside their caring role. Unpaid carers need more support from social services, including to ensure they get a break from caring, greater financial support and provisions to enable them to stay in paid employment alongside their caring role if they wish – and they need help from our NHS to protect and improve their health and wellbeing.”

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