One virus outbreak in care homes

Perth and Kinross is reporting just one current outbreak of COVID-19 in its 40 care homes.

A report presented to a council and health committee yesterday revealed the majority of the region’s vacant beds in care homes are currently open and available to new admissions.

The figures were revealed at a meeting of the audit and performance committee of the Perth and Kinross Integration Joint Board (IJB).

Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) chief officer Gordon Paterson revealed there had been 23 care home deaths across six Perth and Kinross care homes, with the number of deaths equating to 1.7 per cent of the overall resident population.

During the pandemic, seven care homes have had an outbreak with “all localities being impacted.” Over the course of the crisis 21 care homes have been closed at some point, with the number fluctuating.

There are currently four care homes closed to new admissions but only one has a current COVID-19 outbreak.

The report revealed the remaining three had chosen to close and remain closed to new admissions throughout the pandemic. The closure of these four care homes amounts to 17 of their 118 beds being unavailable, which amounts to just over one per cent of the region’s 1428 beds in care homes.

Latest figures in the report show 17 per cent of Perth and Kinross care home staff have been tested for COVID-19.

Mr Paterson told committee members: “Tayside has been at the forefront of testing social care staff.”

He then told the committee how the health and social care partnership was taking steps to ensure it was prepared should there be a second spike of COVID-19.