No visitors after COVID-19 death
A Perthshire care home will remain shut to visitors for 28 days after the death of a resident from COVID-19.
Parkdale Care Home in Auchterarder confirmed the news on Thursday after the death of Barrie Thom, who was also a patient at St Margaret’s Hospital.
It comes as NHS Tayside announced care home visiting could resume in the region after the investigation into the 2 Sisters coronavirus outbreak in Coupar Angus was wound down.
Barrie (93), a former school worker and church elder, is the first coronavirus death to be registered in the region since July.
A Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership spokesperson said: “The safety of our residents and staff is always our main priority.
“Following the confirmation one resident had contracted coronavirus, all other residents and staff were tested and, in line with national guidance, all visits to Parkdale have been suspended for 28 days.
“Anyone who tests positive or develops coronavirus symptoms – a temperature, persistent cough or loss of taste or smell – will be required to self-isolate.
“We would like to reassure residents, their relatives and colleagues that we are taking every possible step to protect them and prevent any further spread of the virus. The staff team at Parkdale is working in partnership with NHS Tayside, Public Health Scotland, and Perth and Kinross Council.
“The situation continues to be monitored together with the NHS HPT.
“The multi-agency group has assessed the infection and prevention control plans that are in place in the care home, and they have confidence in the stringent measures we have introduced to control the spread of coronavirus.”
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith said: “I wish to pass on my condolences to the family of Barrie Thom.
“Closing Parkdale Care Home for 28 days is a move that is in the best interests of patient and public safety. It will however, be a worry for care home residents and their families and for all the staff involved.
“That is why every effort has to be made to improve Track and Trace and to ensure many more people have access to local COVID-19 testing.”
Meanwhile, care home visiting was given the go ahead again in Perth and
Kinross on Friday.
Associate director of public health Dr Daniel Chandler said: “We have been able to make this decision thanks to the exceptional efforts of our contact tracing colleagues both locally and nationally.
“We have been able to map and investigate all new cases of COVID-19 across Tayside which gives us the confidence to reintroduce indoor visiting at care homes.
“We know this will be a great comfort to many people of Tayside, who can now visit their loved ones indoors. We will keep the situation under close review and will continue to work alongside care homes, the three health and social care partnerships and the Care Home Clinical Care Professional Oversight Team.”