Half of COVID deaths are in care homes
MSP speaks out after shock Scottish figures revealed Onecase recorded incouncil carehomes
Nearly half of coronavirus deaths in South Lanarkshire have occurred in care homes.
The shocking figures were revealed in the latest National Records of Scotland report and comes as hospital deaths from the disease look to be in decline.
Latest figures have revealed a total of 153 coronavirus deaths in South Lanarkshire as of April 26, 62 of which (40.5 per cent) have been in care homes.
Neighbouring North Lanarkshire has seen 50 deaths in care homes. Across NHS Lanarkshire, the total number of coronavirus deaths to date is 311.
Now reports have shown more than half of Scotland’s coronavirus deaths occurred in care homes, with Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon calling this a “matter of concern”.
She said: “Every death due to coronavirus is a tragedy and my thoughts remain with all of those who have lost loved ones.
“The high number of deaths in care homes is extremely concerning. Whilst the Scottish Government put the NHS on an emergency footing several weeks ago, they failed to put equivalent support in place for our fragile social care sector.
“Care homes are on their knees and need emergency support from the Scottish Government.”
Official data showed 338 of the 656 deaths recorded in Scotland between April 20 and April 26 were in care homes.
Tragic
That brings the national total to 2272, with the First Minister confirming that included six NHS staff and five social care workers.
Concerns have been raised in recent weeks about a lack of testing and protective equipment in care homes.
Whitehills Care Home in East Kilbride is just one of those affected with 11 confirmed deaths of residents.
Seven staff have also tested positive while the owners confirmed there had been 39 absent for reasons related to Covid-19.
The scale of the outbreak means it is likely coronavirus exists in most care homes, however, most care homes refused to confirm the impact of the virus when contacted by the East Kilbride News.
Operators of the town’s Westwood House and Forefaulds care homes, the Sanctuary Care Group, did get back to the News. They told us the safety of everyone at their facilities remained their priority.
A spokesman said: “While we would not comment on the medical condition of any of our residents, we understand how worrying these unprecedented times are.
“We can reassure families that the safety of their loved ones is our absolute priority. We remain in regular contact with the Scottish Government’s health and social care directorate and other care providers to share information and best practice.
“We will continue to closely follow the detailed public health guidance being given to care homes across the United Kingdom.”
Linda Fabiani MSP called the care home figure “deeply distressing,” but said they were “in line with other countries”.
The SNP representative added: “It is a sad reality care home residents are extremely vulnerable to the virus.
“The Scottish Government has committed to do all it can to make care homes as safe as possible, and I look forward to what our First Minister has to say on further testing by the end of this week.”
South Lanarkshire Council have confirmed they have only had one case of Covid-19 in their care homes.
SLC run two facilities in East Kilbride – McKillop Gardens and Meldrum Gardens – and four elsewhere in the region.
Although it is unknown if the case was in one of the East Kilbride homes, the local authority say the patient has now recovered.
It comes as figures from the National Record of Scotland revealed half of all Covid-19 deaths in Scotland were in care homes.
Eleven residents at Whitehills Care Home in East Kilbride, run by Thistle Healthcare, have died as a result of the virus.
South Lanarkshire director of health and social care, Val de Souza, said: “Every infection brings worry for staff, residents and their families, and of course every death is a tragedy, wherever if occurs.
“At this time, we have thankfully only had one Covid-19 case in council-run care homes and I am pleased to say the resident has recovered.
“However, we are taking nothing for granted and are working hard to try to keep our care homes free of infection, combining physical distancing where possible and a strict and thorough cleaning regime.”