The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Grieving family praise care home’s ‘angels’
PITLOCHRY: Relatives say former district nurse had excellent support
The family of a 98-year-old woman who died during lockdown at a Pitlochry care home have heaped praise on the “angels with hidden wings” who cared for her in her final moments.
Retired district nurse Phyllis Stewart died at the Balhousie residence last week, as daughters Catriona and Sheila said their goodbyes through a window.
The death, reported in yesterday’s Courier, prompted debate over end-oflife visits.
But Catriona has acted to make it clear the family was fully supportive of the care home staff and its decisions.
“I fully support and still support Balhousie on their lockdown procedures,” she said.
“I couldn’t find anything negative to say about their staff, or the care home, or the running of it.”
Catriona said: “We knew from the beginning of this lockdown, if my mum was going to die we wouldn’t get in. I had accepted that.”
She added: “The staff were bending over backwards to help, they really couldn’t do more for us.
“These staff are having a very hard time, and they went beyond the call of duty.
“They are angels with hidden wings.” The Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We absolutely understand the importance of visiting loved ones in care settings, and while routine care home visits are suspended in Scotland, we have guidance in place to ensure visiting care homes is restricted to essential visitors and family visits restricted to end of life care situations.”
The Courier’s report yesterday featured an account of Mrs Stewart’s death which we took in good faith from a person who, the family have since told us, did not represent their true feelings.
The person quoted, Duncan Huie, is not Catriona’s partner, as he had described himself to be.
The Courier would like to apologise to Mrs Stewart’s family for any distress caused.
We knew from the beginning of this lockdown, if my mum was going to die we wouldn’t get in. I had accepted that