Care homes ‘must not be scapegoated’ in inquiry warns sector chief

CARE homes must not be “lined up as a scapegoat” in the forthcoming national inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic, a group representing the sector has warned.

Independent Care Homes Scotland (ICHS), representing 13 operators and 10,000 staff across 155 homes, has said it is vital the sector is given a “meaningful and prominent voice” in the inquiry.

They say the decision by Government to “empty hospital patients into care homes without any testing” early in the pandemic must be addressed in the probe.

ICHS founding member and Renaissance Care chairman, Robert Kilgour, said: “Given that the Scottish care sector was one of those hardest hit by the pandemic, it would be counterproductive if the voices of patients, staff and management were restricted to only a few participants.

“It is of utmost importance that the care sector is not lined up as a scapegoat for things that went wrong during the Covid outbreak.

“It is imperative that the inquiry takes substantial evidence from those on the front line.

“Only then will we be able to ensure it fulfils its remit of establishing any lessons to be learned from what has happened, for the sake of future and current residents, as well as those who have made their careers in the sector.”

ICHS has said it is committed to playing a “full and constructive part” in what is expected to be the largest inquiry of its kind in Scotland, and have called on other independent care home operators to join them.

Mr Kilgour said residents, their families and care home workers had “paid a terrible price” during the pandemic.”