WIREDGOV

Scotland's Chief Statistician yesterday published Free Personal and Nursing Care, Scotland 2007-08. This statistics release presents information on the number of people benefiting from free personal care and free nursing care in Scotland and how much Local Authorities spend on personal care services.

Some of the notable statistics included in the report are:

Care Homes

• The number of self-funders in Care Homes receiving free personal care has increased from 8,350 in 2003-04 to 9,580 in 2008-09, an increase of 15 per cent.
• The number of self-funders receiving free nursing care has also increased from 5,270 in 2003-04 to 6,180 in 2008-09, an increase of 17 per cent.
• Between 2006-07 and 2007-08, Local Authority total expenditure on free personal and nursing care for self-funding residents in care homes increased from £97 million to £101 million, an increase of 4 per cent.
• Total expenditure on free personal and nursing care for self-funding residents in care homes was £83 million in 2003-04 rising to £101 million in 2007-08, an increase of 22 per cent. This is new expenditure arising as a result of the FPC policy.

Care at Home

• The number of people in receipt of free personal care at home has increased from 32,870 in 2003-04 to 44,660 in 2008-09, an increase of 36 per cent.
• Between 2006-07 and 2007-08, Local Authority expenditure on personal care for home care clients increased from £224 million to £257 million, an increase of 15 per cent.
• Expenditure on personal care for home care clients has almost doubled, rising from £129 million in 2003-04 rising to £257 million in 2007-08. This is not all new expenditure attributable to the free personal care policy.