a FAMILY’S anger
The family of a great-grandfather who contracted coronavirus and died after he was moved from hospital to an infection-hit care home have been told to expect a call from police as a massive investigation is launched into Covid-related deaths. Rodger Laing, 80, died at Drummond Grange in Lasswade, near Edinburgh, on May 27, three weeks after he was transferred from Midlothian Community Hospital. Mr Laing, who had dementia, tested negative for coronavirus before he was moved to the care home on May 5 but tested positive two days before his death. The day after Mr Laing’s death the Care Inspectorate revealed issues had been found with infection control and personal protective equipment. Mr Laing’s daughter Gail and son Rodney insist their dad would still be alive if he had not been moved to Drummond Grange against their wishes.
Gail said: “We’ve been assigned a family liaison
officer by the Crown Office and told not to be alarmed if the police contact us because they are compiling evidence. “My dad didn’t need to die. If he hadn’t been moved, he’d still be here today. He was a lamb to the slaughter.” Rodney added:
“It’s being sent to the procurator fiscal who will decide what will be done. We will be fighting for justice because my dad should still be alive. The people in the hospital ward where he was are all still alive.”
Rodney said his dad was moved to a care home over fears he was “bedblocking” at Midlothian Community Hospital, where he was in a dementia ward. Gail said they did not want Mr Laing to be sent to Drummond Grange. They wanted to take him out but were told his needs were too complex. The Scottish Government has been criticised for a decision to move more than 1,000 elderly patients into care without testing them for coronavirus. Gail said: “I’m a forgiving person but I won’t be able to forgive this.
“A lot of blame lies with the government and the care home too, even if it was unintentional. If there’s another wave they need to get it right second time around. Care home residents are not secondclass citizens. They are as important as anybody.
“I’m not just saying that because he was my dad. Everybody loved him.”