Majority of weekly deaths in homes
NICOLA FINDLAY
Sixty per cent of coronavirus deaths in South Lanarkshire in the last week have been in care homes.
That’s despite COVID-19 deaths in the area falling by more than a quarter to just 37 for week ending Sunday, May 3.
However, of those deaths, Scottish government statistics showed 22 were in care homes.
We told you last week how Whitehills Care Home in East Kilbride had 11 confirmed deaths, with other privately run homes not sharing data.
Concerns have been raised over the spiralling number of deaths in the care sector, with Labour’s Monica Lennon describing care homes as“being on their knees”.
The shadow health secretary was backed up by the Royal College of Nursing who called for better access to PPE, testing and additional nurse staffing.
Figures from the National Records of Scotland show a total of 190 people in South Lanarkshire have died from the virus since the outbreak began.
Of those, 84 occurred in care homes (44 per cent), while 85 people died in hospital and 21 at home. That takes the total number of coronavirus deaths across the whole of NHS
Lanarkshire to 385.
Ms Lennon said:“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.”
Theresa Fyffe, director, Royal College of Nursing, Scotland said care homes were“at the centre of this pandemic,”adding that a “clear strategy is needed”to protect residents and staff.
East Kilbride SNP MSP Linda Fabiani previously described the care home figures as“deeply distressing,”but said they were “in line with other countries”.
She added it was a“sad reality care home residents are extremely vulnerable”to the virus.
However, the Scottish government have now ramped up testing in care homes.
The First Minister announced all residents and staff are to be offered testing, whether symptomatic or not, in homes where there has been a confirmed case.
And enhanced outbreak investigations will include other homes if part of a group or chain. There will also be sample testing in care homes where there are no cases.
A Scottish Government spokesman said:“Directors of Public Health are also providing enhanced clinical leadership and have contacted every care home in Scotland to assess how they are managing infection prevention and control, staffing, training, physical distancing and testing.
“The Care Inspectorate will continue to inspect care homes where needed, to ensure the safety of our social care staff and care home residents is maintained.
“Every death related to COVID-19 is a tragedy and our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who have died in these unprecedented circumstances.”
Across Scotland, 2795 people have died as a result of COVID-19. Three-quarters were aged 75 or over while 42 per cent of deaths occurred in care homes.