Emergency powers sought by Freeman

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman is seeking emergency powers to allow the Scottish Government to take over failing care homes when lives are at risk from Covid-19.

The new law was proposed after the Care Inspectorate started legal action to take over the running of the Home Farm care home on Skye, where the coronavirus has claimed the lives of nine residents.

The body is attempting to revoke the licence of the home’s owners, HC-ONE, and prevent them from continuing to manage it.

Under Ms Freeman’s proposals, ministers would have the power to apply to a sheriff court for an emergency order to temporarily manage a home.

The Care Inspectorate already has the power to make an application to the sheriff to cancel the registration of a service where it has concerns about the life, safety and wellbeing of any residents.

The emergency powers will be put forward as a Scottish Government amendment to the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No 2) Bill considered by MSPS next week.

Ms Freeman said: “Every resident in our care homes, their family and the staff who work there should be kept safe from harm and we are prepared to take action where this is not the case.”

She was speaking after two more Covid-19 deaths were recorded at the Skye home.

Across Scotland, 2,053 patients have died after testing positive for coronavirus, up by 46 from 2,007 the day before.

At her daily coronavirus briefing Nicola Sturgeon also said 14,260 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up from 14,117 the day before.

The Skye deaths were raised at the briefing, where Ms Sturgeon suggested care home operations should be reviewed when the country comes out of the pandemic.