CARELESS CARERS
Virus expert says staff antics put residents at greater risk
A care home has come under fire after staff risked spreading coronavirus to vulnerable residents by dancing together and sharing a microphone during a visit from a pub DJ.
Staff flouted the two-metre social distancing rule when Andy Cumming was brought in to entertain residents during a morale-boosting Clap For Our Carers event.
Footage shows workers without PPE equipment sitting linked together while performing a dance.
Staff can also be seen swaying their arms outside the entrance of Carnbroe Care Centre in Coatbridge,
The incident has been reported to the health protection team at NHS Lanarkshire by watchdogs the Care Inspectorate, which has “vigorously reinforced” coronavirus guidelines with the home’s management.
Infectious diseases expert Professor Hugh Pennington criticised the event.
In the 33- minute video, Cumming, regularly booked to entertain pub punters, is seen bending down next to staff and putting a microphone to their mouths, encouraging them to sing Petula Clark hit Sailor.
Pe n n i n g t on s a i d t he high-jinks heightened the risk of Covid-19 enteringtering the home and that singingng into a shared microphone “signi f icantly increases the likelihood” of transmitting thehe virus.
The emeritusus professor of bacteriology att the University of Aberdeen added:dded: “One way the virus gets intonto a care home is staff taking thehe virus in.
“They can infectnfect residents as part of theirir normal daily work without realising what has happened becauseause they haven’t got any symptoms.oms.
“The closenessess of the staff f louted sociall distancing rules between individualsndividuals h a n d s ome l y,y, a nd singing – withth its vigorous expulsionsion of breath fromom the mouth – s igni f i cant llyy increases thee likelihood of virus transmission.tr In a sense, they’re breakibreaking the rules, they shouldn’t be as closclose to one another. “Singing is a riskr factor for transmitting the virus.”v
National RecorRecords of Scotland figures show there have been 1623 coronavirus-relatedrelate deaths in care homes – 46 per cen cent of all fatalities linked to the killer bug b in Scotland. Off icial statistic statistics reveal 651 of adult care homes – 6 60 per cent – have reported at least leas one suspected Covid-19 cas case to the Care Inspectorat Inspectorate since the start of the ep epidemic.
M Miles Briggs MSP, t h e S c ot t i sh Conser vat ive s h a dow he a l t h s ec r e t a r y, sa i d : “Even though the intentions behind this were good, it was clearly a terrible decision.
“It’s hard enough to keep this deadly infection out of care homes.
“Having strangers mingle so closely with the staff will only have heightened the chances of Covid-19 spreading within the home.”
Following the performance on April 24, Carnbroe Care Centre used Facebook to thank a resident’s family for organising the event.
It wrote: “Another huge thank you for organising DJ Andy Cumming to come and perform for the residents and staff at the care home last night.
“Everyone had a great night and cannot thank you all enough for your kind gesture.”
The home, which is owned by the Alpha Care Management Services,
provides nursing care for up to 74 elderly residents and those suffering from dementia.
A spokesman said the facility had been unaffected by Covid-19 and none of its staff or residents had been infected by the illness.
He added: “Our prior it y is always the wellbeing of our residents and giving them the best possible care experience.
“We have organised a number of social events to allow residents to enjoy themselves during what is an extremely difficult time for everyone.
“The event in quest ion was organised at short notice by the family of a resident and took place in the car park of the home.
“We acknowledge that the appropriate social distancing measures and use of PPE – followed vigilantly within the confines of the home since we introduced them before government guidance was issued – were not fully implemented on this occasion.”
Cumming said: “I ’ m sorr y if any rules were broken, although the mics were consistently wiped with sterilisers.
“I was under the impression the carers worked closely together in the home, so there wouldn’t be much of a problem.
“I was unaware that some people had been videoing it on their phones.
“No PPE advice was given and, after you have made me aware, I do admit that the set was irresponsible.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We appreciate that the measures in place can be frustrating for people but they are absolutely necessary to stop the spread of the virus, protect people who are vulnerable and save lives. “Gatherings are discouraged unless people are members of the same household or where it is essential for work purposes, and physical distancing measures should be adhered to at all times.”
A Car e Inspe c t or a t e spokesman added: “We are in contact with this care home and have discussed this with management.
“We have vigorously reinforced the need for physical distancing and continued vigilance to keep residents safe, and have noted that the matter has also been reported to Public Health colleagues.” North Lanarkshi re Council confirmed they are aware of the video and have discussed it with the Care Inspectorate.