Scottish personal care spending soars

Within this total, the cost of providing free care for those paying their own way in care homes passed the £100m mark for the first time.

And the bill for free personal care for those living at home has almost doubled to £257m since the policy was introduced in 2002.

The figures also show more people are receiving care at home - and the nature of the care they receive is becoming more complex.

The figures come in the wake of the Queen’s Speech which set out plans for free personal care in England.

The policy was introduced in Scotland in 2002 to provide free personal and nursing care for those at home and in care homes.

It replaced a patchwork system in which nursing care was free but councils could charge for personal care.

The figures show that spending by councils on providing free personal and nursing care to people paying their own way in care homes rose from £97m in 2007 to £101m last year - a rise of 4%, and 22% higher than in 2004, the first full year of the policy.

Public health minister Shona Robison said: “We are absolutely committed to maintaining that progress and laying the foundations for Scotland’s older people to receive the support they need, not only now but in the years to come.

“We are working with councils and health boards to agree what needs to be done to shape the future of health and social care over the next 20 years.”

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