Perth and Kinross’ ageing population is expected to rise by as much as 40 per cent in some areas.

Across the region as a whole the number of residents aged over 64 is forecast to rise by 25 per cent within the next decade.

The chair of P&K’s Integration Joint Board (IJB) responsible for health and social care decisions in the region told the Perthshire Advertiser these are “significant statistical movements.”

A recent council report also revealed the National Records of Scotland projected an increase of over 20 per cent in the number of local residents aged over 80 fro 2019-2024.

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IJB chair and SNP Perth City Centre councillor Eric Drysdale believes Brexit has played a major part in the ageing profile of local residents.

He told the PA : “Since the 2016 Brexit vote there has been a marked change in the demographic profile of Perth and Kinross, with inward migration from the EU falling sharply but replaced to some extent by people moving to the area from the Central Belt and particularly from England in search of a lifestyle such as Perth and Kinross has to offer.

“However, within the National Records of Scotland data, what we are also continuing in particular to see is an ageing local population.

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“Over the next eight to 10 years there is expected to be a further 25 per cent increase in numbers of those aged over 64.

“Within that average, Strathallan and Kinross-shire are forecasting over 40 per cent increases in the older population.

“These are significant statistical movements.”

Cllr Drysdale - who chairs the Perth and Kinross IJB and sits on NHS Tayside’s board - believes this could have a knock-on effect on the local health and social care budget.

He said: “As a population we are generally living longer with the improvements in medical treatment etc, and that is clearly a very good thing, although with these advancing years come co-morbidities which will present as increased healthcare costs to the system.

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“With more and more senior citizens also understandably choosing to live at home, or in a homely setting, as long as possible, this will further add to the financial challenges facing our post-pandemic health and social care systems.”

As a result, the Perth councillor believes investment is needed despite the financial restraints caused by the current pandemic.

And work towards a review of the social care system is already underway.

Cllr Drysdale said: “The Scottish Government has signalled a floorboards up review of Scotland’s social care system, and work on this has already started in order to create the very best services we can.

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“What the pandemic has shown is just how important health and social care services are to every single one of us, and that alongside education there are no greater priorities for our country.

“This means we really need to take stock of what levels of financial and human resources need to be applied to these services going forward.”

Conservative councillor and qualified anaesthetist Dr Crawford Reid agrees that more funding is needed.

Dr Reid told the PA : “ Perth and Kinross is quite a healthy part of the world to live in and a very attractive place for people to retire to.

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“I can well believe people would want to take the benefits of living in such a wonderful part of Scotland.”

And he thinks healthy pensioners may well require the health service as well as those more infirm for the likes of knee or hip replacements.

He added: “Yes we will need more money but the elderly are the people who by and large paid into the pot so they completely deserve it.”