Rising care homes death toll in cases attributed to coronavirus infection

ALMOST a third of deaths in Scotland’s care homes are now being attributed to coronavirus, the highest level for more than six months.

New figures from the Care Inspectorate show that of the 310 deaths reported by homes in the week to November 22, 88 were due to confirmed Covid and six to suspected cases.

It meant 30 per cent of all deaths that week were confirmed or suspected Covid, compared to single figure percentages between mid June and mid October and 26% in late May.

The level of Covid deaths has grown from 14 to 30% over the last month alone.

Last weekend, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman admitted some patients were being moved to homes without the two negative tests set down as policy because of clinical reasons, including patients who had tested positive in hospital, but were not necessarily infectious.

She said discharge to care homes in such circumstances was at the behest of clinicians after a risk assessment, and involved a “very small number of exceptional cases”.

However at FMQS, Ms Sturgeon was unable to say how many.

Last month, Public Health Scotland said more than 100 patients were moved after a positive test into care homes before mandatory testing policy came in.

Asked how many patients were still being moved into care homes without two negative tests by Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, Ms Sturgeon said: “I can’t give that information because this is clinical decisions taken by clinicians”.

She insisted the policy on two negative tests was “very clear” but there also had to be ethical and clinical “exceptions in some circumstances”.

Mr Leonard replied: “If the Cabinet Secretary for Health describes it as a very small number, I would have thought it would have made sense for the Government to monitor the number of Covidpositive and untested patients being discharged to care homes.”

Mr Leonard also asked the FM if she or her ministers expected to be interviewed in the course of Operation Koper, the rolling investigation into Covid deaths in care homes.

She said: “What evidence the Crown Office seek in relation to any investigation that they are involved in and who the Crown Office chooses to speak to in relation to any investigation they are involved in is a matter for the Crown Office.

“It would be completely wrong for me to seek to comment on that in ways that would be trying in some way to influence the outcome of this or any other investigation.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said families were still being denied access to loved ones in care homes, despite a change in policy to make visiting easier.

He said: “We know that visits can be done safely and the families just want action.”