CARE HOME CATASTROPHE
Several deaths and over 80 residents infected in two major outbreaks
MORE THAN 80 people have caught coronavirus and several have died in major outbreaks at two Scots care homes.
The NHS said that, so far, 82 residents and staff had tested positive between Redmill Care Home in West Lothian and Milford House in Edinburgh.
There have also been a “small number of deaths”, NHS Lothian said.
A relative of one man who died in Redmill leapt to the defence of staff, posting on Facebook they could “not have done anything more” to protect residents.
David Stein’s uncle Pat Murray – who was already battling a long-term illness – died after contracting the virus.
He said: “My uncle was unfortunately one of the patients to die here.
“He was always going to pass away here. Several times during lockdown the family had been called as he wasn’t going to make it through the night so, although Covid was part of the death certificate, it was only a matter of time.”
Pat’s daughter, Michelle Muirhead, also paid tribute to the “wonderful people” for looking after him.
Meanwhile, carer Elaine McKee described the situation as “heartbreaking”.
She wrote: “I work in Redmill. Yes, it’s very hard and heartbreaking. We are doing our best in this situation and keeping relatives updated. Scary times. We did fab for months with no cases at all.”
Nurse Donna Rafferty, whose gran is being cared for at Redmill, said the care workers are the “forgotten angels”.
She added: “My heart goes out to the residents and their families but also to the poor staff continuing to care for our elderly family members despite having young families and dependents themselves.”
NHS Lothian said a total of 53 other residents and staff were confirmed with Covid at Redmill and 29 at Milford House.
In a statement confirming the outbreaks yesterday, the health board said: “Sadly, a small number of residents who tested positive have since died.
“Our thoughts are with their families at this sad time. We are unable to be specific about the number because the total across both homes is fewer than five.”
The health board said that as soon as the first cases were identified, the homes were closed to visitors and additional testing of all staff and residents was introduced.
But the deaths will cause panic among residents and their families who thought the danger in care homes had passed after hundreds of lives were lost early in the pandemic.
The Scottish Government warned operators in April they would get tough on any bosses who failed to protect residents and staff. Emergency laws were brought in, allowing fines or even jail for those who breached the
guidelines. The new powers were introduced following 16 deaths at Burlington Court in Glasgow, 11 at Castle View in Dumbarton, 14 at Highgate Care Home in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, and three at Riverside in Glasgow’s Dalmarnock.
The Scottish Government took over the distribution of PPE under pressure from unions, staff and the media but they ignored pleas until April 21 to test all patients being discharged from hospitals into care homes.
They finally did so the day after 16 deaths were linked to Crosslet Care Home in Dumbarton. Now, patients discharged from hospital to a home must have two negative tests and then be isolated for 14 days as a precaution.
But as the virus took hold, more than half of all the 4000 Scottish deaths were in care homes.
Sturgeon took further measures to stem the tide at the beginning of May, insisting every staff and resident would be tested in a home where an outbreak was found.
She also announced the move for an “advanced outbreak investigation” as she revealed there had been cases in more than 40 per cent of the country’s care homes.
Last night, Scottish Labour Lothian MSP Neil Findlay said: “This is a worrying time for all care home residents and their families and I would like to express my condolences to the families who have lost loved ones.
“The company and NHS Lothian must be transparent with staff and residents about the outbreak and their plans to tackle it.”
He added the outbreak demonstrated that care homes “remain a key front line in the fight against Covid-19”.
We are doing our best in the situation and keeping relatives updated ELAINE McKEE CARER ON DEATHS AT HOMES