Covid-19 hits half of care homes

Extra measures to protect residents and staff in place

Half of care homes in Scotland have now had a confirmed or suspected case of coronavirus, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has revealed.

She stressed further measures are being put in place to protect residents and staff, along with “top-up and emergency” provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) from the Scottish Government.

The latest figures from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show 537 (33%) deaths linked to coronavirus recorded between April 13 and 19 were in care settings.

Ms Freeman said: “NHS directors of public health are now providing enhanced clinical leadership and have contacted every care home in Scotland.

“They are assessing how each home is managing infection control, staffing, training, physical distancing and testing.

“We have provided a direct delivery of PPE to care homes, and have worked with local partners to significantly improve the operation of local PPE hubs.”

She added: “Because the supply of PPE is primarily the responsibility of care home providers in both the private and the public sector, we will continue to provide both top-up and emergency provision to ensure staff have what they need and the and the residents have that protection.

“Work is also under way to ensure that all Covid-19 patients being discharged from hospital should provide two negative tests before discharge and that all new admissions to care homes and all residents who are symptomatic should be tested, and those new admissions should be isolated for 14 days.”

Asked by Scottish Labour’s Monica

Lennon about healthcare staff being scared about the availability of PPE, Ms Freeman said: “Anecdotally, I think the fear is diminishing but I wouldn’t ever underestimate it and I completely understand it.

“If I think back to my own time (as a nurse) so very many years ago, I would want to have the right personal protective equipment for the clinical situation or the care situation that I was working in.”

Urging anyone with concerns to contact the Scottish Government, she added: “I genuinely don’t think that throughout this pandemic I will ever be able to stand up and say the situation around PPE is resolved once and for all.”

The news came as it was revealed health directors are stepping in to make sure care homes in Tayside are coping with coronavirus.

NHS Tayside said all public and private homes are to be assessed.

Directors will assess infection control, staffing, training, social distancing and testing.

NHS Tayside’s community testing team is providing support for testing in care homes, including for staff members with symptoms, to enable a quicker return to work if they test negative for coronavirus.

Where there is an outbreak, care homes are supported by NHS Tayside’s health protection team and the local health and social care partnership.

Dr Drew Walker, director of public health at NHS Tayside, said: “We would like to reassure families that NHS Tayside, the local health and social care partnerships and local authorities in Tayside are all working closely together to support care home staff and residents during the pandemic.”