Patient who tested positive for virus sent to Forfar residence from hospital

A Forfar care home’s first confirmed case of Covid-19 was a resident sent from hospital after testing positive.

Bosses at Lochbank Manor, where six residents later died, say they were unaware of the man’s diagnosis at the time.

He was admitted to Ninewells Hospital in March with symptoms of the virus, including breathlessness, and was then tested before being discharged on April 21.

The man is understood to be among the six Covid-19 positive residents who were discharged to local care homes by NHS Tayside in the critical weeks during the peak of lockdown.

Tom Dailey, who owns parent company Kennedy Care Group, said the team took all steps in their power to protect other residents and it was possible the virus was already in circulation in the home by the time the man arrived.

“We didn’t know about the positive test until a few days later but as a matter of course, he self-isolated as a precaution for two weeks and nothing really developed in that time,” he said.

“I think it probably was the first case we saw in the home but I don’t think it would have been the start of our outbreak.

“It would be wrong to make a judgment that anything happened as a consequence of this.

“I’m also not qualified to say anything with certainty.”

He said employees, residents and their loved ones had been through a traumatic time and he did not want the home’s experience to reflect on any one individual.

Mr Dailey added: “I’m not prepared to say anything was a direct consequence of this gentleman being discharged to our home.

“It’s such a sensitive and emotive issue that has been so difficult for staff and families.”

At least 37 patients were discharged from hospitals to homes in Scotland between March 1 and April 21 after testing positive, while 1,431 untested patients were moved.

This was before testing of discharged patients became mandatory on April 22.

It is believed this may have been a key factor in Scotland’s 1,950 care home deaths – close to half of the country’s total of 4,193.

The mass discharging was sanctioned as the NHS cleared beds in the fear services could become overwhelmed as the number of cases grew rapidly.

Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Monica Lennon has described the practice as “almost beyond belief” and called on the homes that received patients to be named.

The Scottish Government has said discharge decisions were taken by clinicians based on people’s needs.