Alarm raised over care home deaths in Angus

COVID-19: Fatalities are almost two-thirds of county’s total

Deaths in Angus care homes have sparked calls for clarity on how residents and staff are being protected.

Almost two-thirds of the 49 coronavirus deaths in the county have happened in care facilities (31), well above the national average of 43%.

In Dundee, where there have been a total of 107 deaths, 46 have been in care homes.

Concerns have been raised that health authorities have limited ability to enforce PPE and testing guidelines in the private sector.

Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw said the Army should be used to deliver support if needed.

He said: “While thankfully the increases in fatalities look to be slowing, it is clear that care homes have not been given the support and protection they have needed.

“The Scottish Government must ensure that care home residents and staff are no longer overlooked or feel regarded as second-class citizens.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon spoke emotionally about the “profoundly upsetting” situation in Scotland’s care homes as she said the priority was to stop infections.

The number of people dying of coronavirus in Angus care homes has led to calls for clarity over how residents and staff are being protected.

The latest figures show 63% of the total Angus deaths with coronavirus mentioned on the death certificate have occurred in care homes.

It amounts to 31 of the 49 coronavirus deaths in Angus – the second highest percentage in the country, behind Clackmannanshire and joint with East Lothian.

It comes after Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman admitted this week that the government’s ability to intervene directly with private operators is “limited”.

North-east Conservative MSP Bill Bowman said the Scottish Government must take responsibility for its vulnerable citizens.

He said: “The battle against coronavirus is being fought on two fronts.

“I’m pleased the public have taken government guidance to heart as that has undoubtedly saved lives.

“However, the proportion of cases and deaths in care settings still needs to be addressed.

“Even though this involves private enterprise, we need full transparency, as well as evidence of testing and reporting on a par with hospitals.

“The responsibility for ensuring that lies with the SNP government.”

In Dundee, there have been 46 coronavirus-related deaths in care homes, 43% of the 107 total deaths.

The Angus figure is significantly higher than the national average of 43% and comes as up to 20 residents are understood to have now died at South Grange Nursing Home in Monifieth.

The home’s operators, Barchester, will not publicly disclose how many are suspected to be due to coronavirus, or how many staff or residents have contracted the virus.

Donald Macaskill, chef executive of Scottish Care, said the number of deaths in the sector across Scotland is lower than what has been seen in many other parts of Europe.

He added: “As is being seeing everywhere, we know these people are the worst hit part of the population. Scotland is experiencing exactly the same. We are pushing for adequate testing and hospital-grade face masks to be mandatory in all care homes, for staff and residents.”

It comes as an Army-run mobile testing unit is set-up at crisis-hit Home Farm care home on Skye – 57 residents and staff at the Portree facility, run by HC One, have tested positive and three residents have died.

Ms Freeman said on Tuesday: “Since the weekend, enhanced outbreak investigations are being carried out in care homes where there has been a confirmed case of Covid-19.

“In these instances, all residents and staff are offered testing whether they are symptomatic or not. The enhanced outbreak investigations also include other homes if that facility is part of a group or chain.”

A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: “The Health Protection Team is in contact with South Grange Nursing Home every day to assess and advise on infection control precautions, physical distancing, staffing, training and testing.”

An Angus Health and Social Care Partnership spokesperson said: “AHSCP is providing direct clinical support to the South Grange Nursing Home. The regular GP has visited the care home on several occasions to clinically assess patients and has been referring patients for testing where appropriate.”