I fear my mum is source of care home virus tragedy
Daughter’s fury over 12 deaths in home where mother stayed after time in hospital
rule it out. But each time, I was told, ‘No – it’s not Government policy’.”
A second resident fell ill from suspected coronavirus on March 28 and later died.
The insider said the home’s doctor was overheard on April 5 saying: “Covid-19 is in the building.”
But staff were not officially told of the outbreak until the following day. By April 28, the 12th resident had died from the bug. Eight of them, including Connie, lived on the same floor.
The whistleblower said: “The care home should have isolated Connie when she began showing symptoms. “This has been a tragic loss of lives.” The home’s fatalities included Helen
Smith, 74, who died on April 11. Her son George, 52, said: “I don’t blame Connie or her fami ly for what happened. But there’s clearly been huge problems at the home.”
The Care Home Inspectorate said: “Concerns have been raised with us about this service. We are in close contact with them and are considering all information gathered carefully.”
It emerged earlier this month that 921 people were sent to care homes from hospital during March alone.
Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw quizzed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon about deaths at Almond Court last week at First Minister’s Questions.
National Records of Scotland figures
show there have been 1749 Covid-19 related deaths in care homes – about 46 per cent of all fatalities linked to the killer bug in Scotland.
The figures have been described as a “national scandal ” by opposition politicians, who have criticised the Scottish Government’s policy on sending elderly patients back to their care home when they have been treated for Covid-19.
Sturgeon announced earlier this month that every resident and staff member would be tested in a home where a positive case is found, to help stop the spread.
A Holmes Group spokesman said: “There was no indication from the hospital that thee resident had been on resident had been on a ward with suspected coronavirus patients. Had the home been made aware of this, they would not have allowed the resident to return until she had been tested.
“We can confirm with deep sadness that we have lost residents in recent weeks with suspected Covid-19, but it is not our policy to comment in the media on numbers.
“We are, of course, communicating directly with the loved ones of anyone affected, along with the Care Inspectorate, Health Protection Scotland, the NHS service supporting the home and the local authority.”
Scottish Tory Glasgow MSP Annie
Wells said: “The SNP Government’s failure to get testing into care homes was and remains a national scandal.
“They had the capacity, and it simply hasn’t been used.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We’re doing everything we can to keep our patients and staff safe in the face of Covid-19. At all times we have followed national and clinical guidance, testing and the safe discharge of patients from our hospitals. We’re supporting care homes through the testing of residents and staff.”
The Scottish Government said: “Care home staff will be offered testing, regardless of whether the care home in which they work has a Covid-19 case. “Health boards and local health protection teams are working to ensure care homes are supported in the transit ion to this increased testing regime.”
Scottish Government figures yesterday showed 2353 patients have now died from Covid-19 – up from 2331 on Friday.
The UK death toll increased by 215 to 38,376.
A grieving daughter has told of her fears that her mum was the source of a deadly Covid-19 outbreak in a care home that left 12 residents dead.
Heartbroken Caroline Keith said Constance Laughlan was sent back to Glasgow’s Almond Court from Queen Elizabeth University Hospital without having had a test and despite concerns that she had come into contact with the disease.
The 79-year-old, known as Connie, had dementia and was al lowed t o mi n g l e w it h ot he r residents in the D r umc h a p e l home even though she was displaying the k i l ler bug’s symptoms.
Claims f rom a whistleblower and video footage filmed inside the 42-bed home reveal that the gran, who also died in the outbreak, may have spread the virus to other residents and staff. The Care Home Inspectorate is now investigating.
Mum-of-two Caroline, 48, said: “Not only has my mum lost her life but others in the home did too.
“It’s left me very angry that she was allowed to walk about when she had symptoms.
“The care home should have isolated her if she was coughing. If there had been testing they would’ve known straight away. But they didn’t. “That’s unforgivable for me.” Former waitress Connie was admit ted to hospital on March 5 amid fears she had suffered a stroke.
While she was being treated at QEUH, Caroline said the family were informed of a possible coronavirus outbreak on the wards.
Connie was discharged from hospital on March 16 but the whistleblower at the home who has come forward sa id the g ran began displaying coronavirus symptoms within days of returning to Almond Court. On March 19, a member of staff reported being unwell and began to self-isolate.
The insider also said that concerns were raised with management about Connie’s health after she returned.
On March 23, the home – run by The Holmes Care Group – posted a video on social media showing residents playing with a giant football.
The video, on a Facebook page that has now been made private, showed a member of staff, not wearing any PPE, talking to a Connie, who is seen repeatedly coughing.
Documents reveal the home’s policy on hospital admissions shifted on the same day. An internal email said residents should be isolated for up to 10 days when they returned from hospital.
Caroline said she was told her mum was suf fering f rom suspected coronavirus on March 26.
She died four days later.
Caroline said: “I was unable to visit her, so I was in the dark until I was shown the video.
“I used to visit her every day but the care home introduced a no-visiting policy when the pandemic began.
“When she started getting better, I kept asking the doctor to test for coronavirus. My argument was if it wasn’t, then we should find out what it was and treat her.
“A test seemed the obvious way to