Concern over number of deaths at HC1 care homes in Tayside and Fife.

The care home provider at the centre of a major outbreak of Covid-19 on Skye has confirmed more than 200 residents have died of coronavirus in its facilities across Scotland.

As of Sunday, there have been 207 deaths and 1,002 suspected or confirmed cases of Covid-19 across HC-One’s 56 Scottish homes.

The group has 15 care homes in Tayside and Fife, including three in Dundee, three in Glenrothes and two in each of Perth and Arbroath.

HC-One would not provide a regional breakdown of the deaths and cases, making it difficult to know how many have occurred in their Tayside and Fife homes.

However, at least 25 residents have died in one of the group’s homes in the region since March 13 – the date of the first coronavirus-related death in Scotland – according to death notices posted in The Courier.

It is not known if any have been attributed to Covid-19.

NHS Highland is helping run the Home Farm care home in Portree after the Care Inspectorate raised “serious and significant concerns” in the wake of 10 deaths there.

Last week, the Scottish Government announced it will fasttrack laws which will allow it to step in and take over the running of care homes struggling to mitigate cases.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the powers would only be used as a “last resort”.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We asked directors of public health to provide enhanced clinical leadership in care homes across Scotland working alongside other partners. They have been assessing how each home is managing infection prevention and control, staffing, training, physical distancing and testing.

“We have also taken action to significantly strengthen oversight of Scotland’s care homes.

“From today, senior clinical and care professionals at NHS boards and local authorities have a lead role in the oversight for care homes in their area, including all run by HC-One, ensuring clarity and consistency across the country about the role of boards and local authorities in helping to keep their residents safe from coronavirus.”

HC-One has been publishing its coronavirus figures on its website since April.

The company posted: “The impact of Covid-19 on us, on the UK and the world is unprecedented, and there is a professional and public interest to learn about its impact and discuss this openly.

“Consequently, we have decided to share the number of suspected or confirmed Covid-19 cases and the number of residents who have sadly lost their lives, at a company level.

“These numbers are cumulative since the start of the UK Covid-19 outbreak.

“These numbers encompass confirmed tests and suspected cases in our homes, based on the clinical assessment of a GP, community matron or a member of our own clinical team.

“We are supporting the families of all of those residents who have been affected and those who have lost their lives, and our thoughts and condolences are with all those who have lost loved ones.

“If there has been an outbreak at a home, or if there has been a change in a resident’s health or care, we have been informing the respective relatives as a matter of priority.”

Across its UK homes, 903 residents have died with a suspected or confirmed case of the virus as of May 17.