MSP‘not surprised’after virus outbreak at call centre
John Brown spent 12 weeks fighting for his life in University Hospital Wishaw’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as well as the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank and spent weeks hooked up to a ventilator.
The 71-year-old fought bravely and was finally allowed home to his house in Bentfoot Road, Overtown.
And John was overcome with emotion after wife Jean and his neighbours decorated the street with bunting and flags to celebrate his homecoming.
Dad-of-two John said: “My mind was blown. I had no idea, no-one told me.
“There were about 60 people there. I didn’t realise anyone thought that much of me.
“People said they had been praying for me. It was so good to
NHS Lanarkshire is investigating an outbreak of Covid-19 among staff at a virus contact tracing centre in North Lanarkshire.
Scotland’s deputy First Minister John Swinney confirmed on Monday morning that six members of staff at the centre operated by Sitel at Maxim Park, Eurocentral near Motherwell had tested positive for coronavirus with eight now being confirmed by NHS Lanarkshire.
Staff working at the centre were told they could expect to be offered a Covid-19 test within 24 hours.
The Railway Tavern pub in Merry Street, Motherwell also closed on Monday for a deep clean after a part-time staff member there was linked to the outbreak.
The contact tracing centre situated on the first floor has also been subjected to a “deep clean”, according to Sitel.
A source working for Virgin Media – also contracted to Sitel – on the floor above is concerned those working there may also have been exposed to the virus.
The worker told the Wishaw Press that the building has three open floors and many of those working on other floors are worried about the use of areas shared for access, and that social distancing is not being adhered to.
“The building should be closed down for a deep clean by a professional team and everyone should be sent home with immediate effect,” the source added.
Earlier this year Monica Lennon MSP raised concerns with Police Scotland after being contacted by Sitel staff working at Eurocentral.
In response to the outbreak, she said: “Sadly, I’m not surprised. I hope those workers make a full and speedy recovery.
“There are people in there working on different contracts for different clients and they’re sharing spaces, so all of that needs to be looked at.
“I received a lot of emails during March and April about contact centres and factories across Lanarkshire.
“We got a lot about Sitel in terms of the Virgin workforce there, and it got to a point some of it was quite serious.
“My office referred concerns to the police as we felt regulations weren’t being followed. The police said they would refer it to environmental health.
“I had hoped that things had improved.
“The public health authorities need to be held to account as well. If companies are getting public money there should be no cutting corners when it comes to health and safety.”
The Wishaw Press contacted Sitel for comment and was directed to a statement on their website: “We are aware of a local outbreak of Covid-19 at our site in Motherwell. We are urgently investigating this alongside colleagues in NHS Lanarkshire.
“We take the safety and wellbeing of our staff very seriously. Everyone who has been working at the site we have requested that they book and complete a test within the next 24 hours. The site has been deep cleaned and all social distancing guidelines have been followed.”
Dr David Cromie, consultant in public health medicine, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “Our public health team has been working closely with the employer Sitel and staff in the building who have been encouraged to have tests carried out.
“NHS Lanarkshire’s incident management team has been meeting regularly to investigate.
“A number of people have now been identified as close contacts and almost all have been traced and given advice.”
Dr Cromie added: “A total of eight positive cases associated with Sitel have been identified to date.
“We would like to reassure the local community that appropriate measures have been implemented.”