How lack of key experts ‘absolutely cost lives’ in pandemic

A LACK of social care voices in Scottish Government pandemic decisions ‘absolutely’ cost lives in care homes, an inquiry has heard.

Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, told the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry that ministers were warned of the need to include frontline experience in policy-making, particularly in the decision not to immediately test hospital patients discharged into care homes.

He also said Operation Koper – a Crown investigation into the circumstances of all care home deaths during the pandemic – has ‘broken’ staff in the sector.

He told the inquiry it was a ‘real failure’ of the Scottish Government not to have a social care director, similar to the clinical role held by Jason Leitch.

Dr Macaskill said this had ‘a profound impact’, and added: ‘I am absolutely convinced that the lack of engagement and involvement in planning the early stage of the social care sector... did, sadly, cost many people their lives.’

Referencing Operation Koper, which is still ongoing, he said those who lost loved ones ‘deserve’ to know what took place in the care sector.

He added: ‘However, we have thousands of staff whose professionalism has been called into question, over whom there is a weight of suspicion and a cloud hanging over.

‘Tragically, I know personally there have been a number of individuals for whom investigations as part of Operation Koper [has] broken them.’

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: ‘Prosecutors continue to work with our partner agencies to collate information from care homes, employers, NHS and the Scottish Government for investigation.’

The inquiry, before Lord Brailsford, continues.