Visits are too soon’
Family raise their concerns
NICOLA FINDLAY
An East Kilbride family say they fear coronavirus could run out of control in care homes once again if visitors are allowed in too soon.
The Scottish Government announced a phased reintroduction of family visiting and communal activities for residents from July 3 – if COVID-free throughout the pandemic or if all affected residents have fully recovered and no residents have had symptoms for 28 days.
Initially it will be one person and limited to gardens with face coverings mandatory.
It is part of an easing of lockdown restrictions and while Alexandra Brown – whose mum, 83-year-old Betty, is in the town’s South Lanarkshire-run Meldrum Gardens – said she and her relatives are desperate to visit, it’s not worth the risk.
Alexendra, who lived in Lindsayfield for 20 years, previously praised the home, which has remained COVID-free, for the care of its residents during the pandemic.
And while she said she is confident Meldrum wouldn’t risk all their hard work, she believes a more cautious approach should be taken across care homes.
“In my opinion it’s too soon – don’t just open the flood gates and let people in,” Alexandra told the News.
“They haven’t opened things like pubs and shopping centres yet but it’s OK to go into care homes which have been hit really hard by this?
“Don’t get me wrong, I understand people are desperate to see their relatives and viceversa.
“I desperately want to be able to sit with my mum – but more importantly I want her safe and with us. At the moment I am not sure it’s worth the risk.
“It wouldn’t take a great deal for it to takeoff a again and then what’s all the hard work and sacrifices been for?”
And Alexandra worries about people like her mum, who has Alzheimer’s, and their ability to understand the restrictions.
“For people with Alzheimer’s and dementia if they recognise loved ones they will want to go right over to relatives and hug them and touch them – they don’t understand why they can’t,” she added.
“At the minute it is just one person outside but what happens when it’s more than one person, then multiple people inside?
“I have no doubts Meldrum will continue to be as fastidious as they have been and do everything in their power to keep people safe.
“But they can’t control what contact people have outside who are then coming into the home – we have been sensible and stuck to the rules throughout this but that’s not the case with everyone.
“It’s just my opinion but I think we need to see how opening up other things goes before we risk the vulnerable people in care homes and staff. We have lasted this long – what difference will another couple of weeks make?”
While SLC-run care homes have avoided outbreaks – with just one case from which the patient recovered in their McKillop Gardens facility in East Kilbride – other privately run care homes have seen COVID take hold.
Whitehills Care Home – operated by Thistle Healthcare LTD – was reported to the Care Inspectorate by Labour health spokesperson, Monica Lennon MSP, after 23 COVID-related deaths among residents.
However, a summary of a visit to the home by inspectors at the end of May was largely positive praising them for its “good infection prevention and control procedures”.