The Herald

Care homes Inquiry delay ‘could put lives at risk’

- By David Bol Political Correspond­ent

THE Scottish Government has been warned lives could be put at risk if ministers continue to ignore united calls for an immediate public inquiry into care homes during the pandemic.

Politician­s joined forces to defeat the Government in a Holyrood vote, backing pleas for a public inquiry to learn lessons as a second wave sweeps the country.

Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman stressed it would not be appropriat­e for the probe to be carried out while the focus remained on suppressin­g the virus.

THE Scottish Government has been warned lives could be put at risk if ministers continue to ignore united calls from opposition MSPS for an immediate public inquiry into care homes during the pandemic.

Politician­s joined forces to defeat the Scottish Government in a Holyrood vote, backing pleas for a public inquiry to be held in order to learn lessons as a second wave of Covid-19 sweeps across the country.

But Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has stressed that, while the Scottish Government welcomes a public inquiry taking place, she insisted it would not be appropriat­e for the probe to be carried out while the focus remained on suppressin­g the virus.

Ms Freeman also rejected claims the government was avoiding scrutiny over care homes.

The accusation­s were levelled at Nicola Sturgeon and Ms Freeman after a damning report from Public Health Scotland last week revealed 113 hospital patients who tested positive for the virus were transferre­d to care homes in the early weeks of the pandemic and thousands more were moved to the institutio­ns without being tested.

The Scottish Government has since updated testing rules to ensure patients must test negative twice before being transferre­d, while a winter plan published on Tuesday included daily temperatur­e checks for residents and staff.

Scottish Conservati­ve health spokespers­on Donald Cameron demanded an inquiry start immediatel­y and told MSPS “significan­t and costly” mistakes had taken place in relation to care homes “that have cost lives”.

He warned that a “failure to protect Scotland’s most vulnerable people is a scandal”.

Mr Cameron added: “While we wait, the families of those who died in our care homes will get no answers and no closure.

“There have been significan­t failings that have probably led to deaths in our care homes.”

Labour health spokespers­on

Monica Lennon stressed that “getting the public inquiry under way is in the public interest”.

She added that a failure to do so “risks the inquiry getting kicked down the road, possibly until after the election”.

She added: “Cross-party work should be happening now so we can agree the terms of reference.

“The timing is crucial. We could put lives at risk. We cannot afford to be slow.”

Ms Freeman insisted “a public inquiry is critical” and an examinatio­n taking place is welcomed by the Scottish Government.

But she warned that “we remain in the middle of a global pandemic”, adding that “must remain our focus”.

Ms Freeman added: “This is not the time to divert any resources to set up an immediate public inquiry.”

Mr Cameron pointed to the First Minister being unable to put a date on when she was first made aware that known positive Covid patients were being moved to care homes – while his party has criticised Ms Sturgeon for her interpreta­tion of the Public Health Scotland findings into the impact of the practice.

The report found that care home size was the most significan­t factor in their outbreaks, but the authors said it was “likely that hospital discharges were the source of introducti­on of infection in a small number of cases”.

Ms Freeman said that, while the report authors “could not exclude” hospital discharges as having an impact, they concluded “it was not the major” factor.

She added: “We did what we believed to be right at the time and with the resources available to us.”

The Health Secretary also said she would “refute absolutely” any accusation­s that the Scottish Government had been spinning the report and avoiding scrutiny.

Scottish Greens health spokeswoma­n Alison Johnstone, who also backed calls for an immediate inquiry, said the investigat­ion could help “prevent avoidable deaths”, adding “the opportunit­y to do so should not be delayed”.

Libdems health spokespers­on

Alex Cole-hamilton added that the public inquiry should take place to “avoid the future mistakes that may still come”.

While we wait, the families of those who died in our care homes will get no answers and no closure

 ??  ?? Health Secretary Jeane Freeman denied the Scottish Government was avoiding scrutiny over care homes
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman denied the Scottish Government was avoiding scrutiny over care homes

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