Agency and overtime expenditure rockets

PAYING for agency staff to do social care cost Dumfries and Galloway Council £101,944 last year.

And they faced a staff overtime bill of £284,285 too during 2024-5.

The figures, which are the result of a freedom of information request by the Scottish Conservatives, are substantially higher than in previous years.

Commenting, South Scotland MSP Craig Hoy expressed shock at the spend, and pointed out that social care has been in crisis during the SNP watch at Holyrood and some council staff were becoming completely overwhelmed.

Mr Hoy has now called on the Scottish Government to stop 'squandering money' and to ensure social care staff do not constantly have to work extra hours while councils pay more and more in agency costs.

He said: “These shocking figures show how the SNP-led devolved government policy has allowed social care services in Dumfries and Galloway to fall into crisis.

“Cash-strapped councils such as that in Dumfries and Galloway are already dealing with the consequences of SNP budget allocations well below what is actually required to meet the needs of our region — year after year.

“The local council does not have the resources to spend huge sums paying staff overtime or bringing in agency workers to fill the gaps."

The politician wants to see less Scotland-wide bureaucracy and money instead diverted to enable councils and social care providers to recruit more permanent in-house staff.