Scotland now has more than a million unpaid carers as a result of the covid pandemic, new figures show.

An estimated 392,000 people have started supporting loved ones who are older, disabled or living with a relative with a physical or mental illness.

Nearly six in ten – 58% – of this group are trying to juggle paid work alongside their caring responsibilities.

And this is on top of the 729,000 people who were already unpaid carers before the crisis – bringing the total to 1.1 million.

Campaigners say the figures, compiled from polling by YouGov, highlight the need for a long-term plan for social care, which includes giving unpaid carers the opportunities to take breaks and carry out paid work if they want to.

The survey also suggests the role of unpaid carers has become more visible as a result of the pandemic – with 43% of people saying they are more aware of the role.

Nearly eight out of ten – 79% – of people in Scotland also back the idea of increased support for unpaid carers, including improved financial help.

The Scottish Government is giving an extra payment to family carers in recognition of the pressures they face during the virus crisis.

However, hundreds of thousands do not qualify because of strict eligibility criteria set out by the Department of Work & Pensions.

Six charities supporting Carers Week – Carers Scotland, Age UK, Carers Trust Scotland, Motor Neurone Disease Association, Oxfam GB and Rethink Mental Illness – are calling on the Government to ensure unpaid carers are supported through the pandemic, and beyond.

Simon Hodgson, directors of Carers Scotland, said recognising the contribution of unpaid carers to society has “never been more important”.

He said: “Unpaid carers should not be taken for granted by the Scottish and UK Governments in this crisis.

“They must ensure that carers’ physical and mental health is looked after as well as introducing measures to protect financial wellbeing, careers and education.”

Mr Hodgson called on the Scottish Government to ensure care services halted by the outbreak are brought back as soon as possible:

“It is imperative that, moving out of the pandemic, the Scottish Government ensures that care services are reinstated as quickly as is safely possible to reduce the pressure that so many carers are experiencing.

“They must also work with carers to rebuild and renew our care system so that carers are supported and families have improved and better access to the services and support they need to live better lives.”

Most of those who have started caring for a loved one during the pandemic are women – 61% compared to 39% who are men. Their responsibilities range from helping with food shopping and collecting medicine, to preparing meals and personal care.

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