Unpaid carers suffering poor health, says report
A Carers Scotland report says the system is in "crisis"
Unpaid carers in Scotland are having to endure "shocking" levels of poor health propping up a system that is in "crisis", according to a leading national charity.
It comes a new report setting out the results of a survey of more than 1,700 unpaid workers showed a majority have experienced deteriorating physical health due to their roles.
Carers Scotland carried out its annual State of Caring survey between and June and August this year and found over half of carers said their physical health had suffered because of their work.
It also revealed a fifth of carers had suffered a physical injury from their role, 37% of carers on care allowance said their mental health was bad or very bad and 36% had reported having thoughts related to self-harm or suicide.
The Carer Scotland report said: "We do not shy away from using the term 'health and social care crisis' in this report.
"Despite their huge contribution to the Scottish economy, to our communities and to the lives of the people they care for, carers are facing deteriorating physical and mental health, loneliness and isolation with too many driven to despair and denied access to the very support they need to maintain a healthy life."
Under a quarter surveyed had to stop or reduce work because of mental health
The survey further found 35% of carers had not had a break in the past year and just under a quarter had to stop or reduce the amount of work they do because of their mental health.
It is estimated there are around 800,000 people providing unpaid care in Scotland at the moment, and it would cost around £13 billion every year to pay someone else to complete the work they do.
The document concluded: "The findings in this report paint a stark picture of carers buckling under the strain of propping up a health and social care system that is under severe pressure.
"This pressure in the delivery of public sector services has meant that carers have been left to carry a growing burden of significant care - where social care cannot provide a service, it is unpaid carers who are expected to step in, where the NHS needs a 'bed' it is carers who are left to support discharge.
"At the same time, carers' physical and mental health continues to deteriorate, often significantly whilst they have little time, money or energy to be able to maintain their own health and well being.
"Rightly, the government has recognised the need to bring down NHS waiting lists and improve access to health services, including crucial mental health services.
"However, dedicated funding and planning is urgently needed to ensure that carers can access the health services they need and support for caring from social care services to prevent the shocking levels of poor health they are experiencing.”
Report reveals "shocking state of care sector"
Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie commented: "This landmark report lays bare the shocking state of the care sector in SNP Scotland.
"The findings are utterly harrowing - too many unpaid carers feel unsupported and are at their wits' end, resulting in serious physical and mental health consequences, whilst staff feel undervalued and unprotected.
"Unpaid carers really are unsung heroes, but they have been badly let down by this SNP Government that is presiding over worrying levels of unmet need and a care sector workforce crisis.
"That's why Scottish Labour will continue to fight for proper reform of the care sector in the interests of unpaid carers, staff and service users - including a commitment to provide access to a minimum of two weeks respite care, and a clear path to £15 an hour for care workers."
Government investing in local carer support
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "We fully recognise the vital contribution that unpaid carers make to our communities and that they have to deal with these responsibilities on top of other pressures.
"To help manage this, every area in Scotland must have a local carer strategy and all carers have a right to a personalised plan to identify their needs for support.
"We're also investing £88 million a year in local carer support through local authority Carers Act funding.
"This includes local responsibilities to have a dedicated information and advice service in every area to help people understand their rights and the support available locally."