Care homes Covid-19 death probe reveals 67 transfers from hospital
The number of people admitted to Renfrewshire care homes from hospital since the start of the coronavirus outbreak is more than double the figure originally reported.
The Express can reveal that 67 people were transferred to homes in the region between March 1 and May 31 when 110 residents tragically died of the virus.
The figure - which has jumped from the 28 admissions initially reported - comes as an enquiry to examine the relationship between these admissions and deaths in care homes continues.
Bosses at Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) would not confirm how many of the 67 residents went on to develop Covid-19.
It did say however that it never knowingly placed a patient with Covid-19 into a local facility.
The health board said that the additional 39 admissions became apparent after further investigation.
A spokesman for the HSCP said: “Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have always followed national guidance in relation to care home admissions.
“Within Renfrewshire, no one has been discharged from hospital to a care home without first being assessed and declared as fit for discharge.
“Before the end of April, patients were tested for Covid- 19 within hospital either at admission or during treatment. They were discharged to care homes that were free of outbreaks at the point of placement.
“All admissions continue to be subject to a 14- day period of isolation and care homes always use full PPE and exercise strict infection control procedures.”
The health board’s confirmation that it had tested people for coronavirus in hospital comes despite official guidance from the Scottish Government which allowed people with the disease to be nursed in care homes in isolation.
It was only at the end of April that it required all people eligible for care home admission to have two negative test results for the virus.
It is not yet clear if the there is a direct relationship between admissions from hospital and deaths in the Renfrewshire sites that have experienced large loses of life.
Five of the 22 care homes in the region are known to have experienced Covid-19 deaths, with Elderslie Care Home, Kyle Court and Mosswood Care Home all confirming deaths, while veteran’s charity Erskine has seen deaths at both of its Bishopton sites.
The HSCP spokesman added: “‘ Double testing’ or the requirement for two negative tests for individual patients being discharged from hospital to care homes was put in place in late April.
“Since then, this approach has been followed for all patients. All residents of care homes have been subsequently tested and their safety and wellbeing continues to be our first priority.”