Directors of public health to assess care home response

DIRECTORS of public health are to take “enhanced clinical leadership” of care homes as deaths in the sector continue to rise.

It is understood two more people have died after an outbreak of Covid-19 at Lochleven Care Home in Broughty Ferry, bringing the total to 11.

Operator Thistle Healthcare criticised testing delays but NHS Tayside stressed yesterday it had been “ahead of the curve” in testing residents, care workers and their relatives over recent weeks.

Meanwhile, five people have died at Lochbank Manor i n Forfar, run by Kennedy Care Group.

Group chief executive Tom Dailey said: “Sadly, we’ve had another death since the weekend.

“The resident tested negative over the weekend but sadly died since then. We don’t know what the exact cause of death is, so it’s hard to say if its Covid-related.”

Drew Walker, director of public health with NHS Tayside, is to make initial assessments of how each care home in the region is faring in terms of infection control, staffing, training, social distancing and testing.

He said he wanted to reassure families that all authorities are working closely to support care home and staff during the pandemic.

He added: “The care system across Scotland is under significant pressure due to Covid19 and we are very appreciative of the work being done by care homes, both those run by the health and social care partnerships and those provided by private sector organisations in Tayside in delivering a hugely valued service to some of the most vulnerable people in our population who are under their care.”