Carers Scotland welcomes the joint report by the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission and its recognition of the important role of unpaid carers in planning effectively for hospital discharge. The report finds that carers are often involved too late in the discharge process.

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 gives carers a right to be involved in discharge and places duties on the NHS to inform and involve them.

However, Carers Scotland's State of Caring report 2025 found that just 34% of carers said they were involved in decisions about discharge and only 12% felt they had sufficient support on discharge to protect their health and wellbeing and that of the person they care for.

This poor involvement of carers and lack of support risks unplanned readmission of individuals and increases the cost of caring to carers own physical and mental health.

We therefore welcome the report's call for integration authorities with their partner NHS boards and councils to ensure they fully implement the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016. We urge that this recommendation is vigorously pursued by the Scottish Government, with all Integration Authorities identifying the points in the discharge planning process where this is failing and setting out interventions of support they will take to improve their processes to ensure all carers are fully involved in discharge planning from the point of admission.

Alongside this it remains crucial to invest in social care. Access to social care is a critical factor in improving and delivering successful discharges, both for individuals and unpaid carers. The upcoming Scottish Government budget must recognise its integral role and increase investment in social care and in support for unpaid carers, including local carer organisations.

Statement from Fiona Collie, Head of Public Affairs and Communications, on behalf of Carers Scotland