£400m bill for social care overtime and agency staff

SCOTTISH councils have spent more than £400million in the past five years on social care overtime and agency staff, figures show.

- By John Glover

Statistics released to the Scottish Conservatives under freedom of information legislation show a £400.1m spend between 2020 and 2025, with £200.4m in agency spend and £199.7m on overtime. During that time, the total annual spend on both across the country rose from £60.2m to £85.7m.

SNP-run Glasgow City Council spent the most on agency staff and overtime for social care at £99.7m.

Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “The SNP are presiding over a social care crisis in Scotland. These shocking, whopping figures expose an exhausted workforce, with chronic staff shortages forcing carers into endless overtime.