Blackford’s broadside at ‘woeful’ PM
THE Prime Minister’s leadership during the pandemic has been “woefully exposed”, says Ian Blackford.
The SNP’S leader at
Westminster made the claim as House of Commons prepares to reconvene tomorrow.
It comes as Boris Johnson is reportedly facing a backlash from his own MPS after a host of U-turns, resulting in Labour pulling level with the Tories in polling for the first time in more than a year – a snapshot survey put the Tories and Labour both at 40 per cent.
RESULTS of Covid-19 tests at care homes have been taking three times as long since Scotland’s schools returned earlier this month.
A surge in the number of children being tested means staff and elderly residents can now wait up to six days, rather than two, to learn if they have the virus.
One of Scotland’s biggest operators, Balhousie, which runs 26 homes, said 846 staff were tested last week, starting on Monday, August 24, but it had only received six results by Friday, August 28.
Robert Kilgour, who operates the family-run Renaissance Care group of 15 homes, said the return of schools has meant results have not been ready for up to six days.
He said: “The situation is at times frustrating beyond belief when we are trying our best to keep everyone safe.
“It took months for the Scottish Government to finally get the once-a-week testing in place for our 1,100 staff, and we were getting results back within 48 hours, which was acceptable.
“However, the moment they allowed schools to re-open, we’ve been beset with problems about trying to get test results back in time so we can keep everyone safe – and suddenly it’s taking up to six days. We discovered that 7 per cent of our staff were asymptomatic but tested positive, which is why it’s so vitally important they are tested once a week and the results get back quickly.”
The delay in getting test results for staff has been highlighted as an increasing concern by many homes.
In May, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman committed to weekly testing of all 50,000 care home staff in Scotland but that target has repeatedly been missed.
Official figures show that in the past two weeks almost 478 care-home staff and 119 residents were confirmed to have the virus, but the real figures are likely to be higher.
The government has been criticised for failing to prioritise care home staff who are in close contact with high-risk older people in the same week that 17,500 low-risk children were tested, with only 49 positive and at least 20,000 told to selfisolate on Wednesday.
Tony Banks, chairman of Balhousie Care Group, said: “Between Monday and
Friday of this week we had 846 staff members tested and by the end of Friday only six results had been returned. That’s a cruel waiting game to play on anyone, and it’s unacceptable.
“Our staff are anxious, our managers are in the dark and our residents are at risk of being exposed to asymptomatic staff.
“We want an assurance from the government that efficient weekly testing and results are given urgent priority. The lives of society’s most vulnerable depend on it.” Gary Smith, leader of the GMB union in Scotland, which represents staff in care homes, said: “This is a shameful reflection of how these key workers are valued.”
Dr Donald Macaskill, chief executive of care homes umbrella body Scottish Care, said: “It is important all of us consider carefully whether a child requires a test in line with recommended guidance.”
A leaked letter to care homes from the interim deputy director of the government department responsible for testing blamed a backlog at the UK Government-funded Lighthouse Laboratory in Glasgow. Tracy Slater said it could take weeks to sort out.
On Thursday, Nicola Sturgeon said a Public
Health Scotland review was under way. On delays in getting test results back to care home staff, the Scottish Government said: “We are aware of a significant increase in demand for testing this week and are implementing contingency plans to increase capacity.”
Meanwhile, care home owners have confirmed patients with Covid were discharged from hospital into care homes as official investigations continue into the controversial bed-clearing policy.
Operators have revealed trust between hospitals and homes was undermined because health authorities were “clearly under enormous pressure” to move patients out of wards in the weeks before and after lockdown.
Their comments came after we revealed dozens of patients were sent to homes after testing positive.
Last week, the First Minister and her official spokesman insisted the patients may not have been infectious by the time they were transferred.