Failure to support most disadvantaged in Scotland 'costs £5.8bn a year', says analysis

Failing on deprivation costing Scotland £5.8bn a year

FAILING the most disadvantaged people in Scotland costs at least £5.8 billion a year, according to new analysis for Homeless Network Scotland.Research by economic consultancy WPI Economics on behalf of the network confirms that the costs of severe and multiple disadvantages (SMD) including issues such as homelessness, substance dependency and offending, mental ill health and domestic violence and abuse go beyond the immediate impacts on individu…

Failure to support most disadvantaged in Scotland 'costs £5.8bn a year', says analysis

The analysis found that the cost to Scotland's NHS amounts to an estimated £92.8m annually through increased demand for healthcare services including hospital, mental health and A&E.

Failure to support most disadvantaged costs £5.8bn a year, says analysis

The analysis found there is a 'significant economic cost' to severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) in Scotland.