‘No1 mistake’ of crisis

PRIORITISING the NHS will ultimately be seen as the Scottish Government’s ‘number one mistake’ of the crisis, the leader of the care sector has said.

Chief executive of Scottish Care Donald MacAskill criticised the decision to spend £43 million setting up the NHS Louisa Jordan temporary hospital, at the SEC Centre in Glasgow.

There have been more than 1,600 care home deaths in Scotland – almost half the total coronavirus fatalities. Mr MacAskill said: ‘In time, the prioritisation of the NHS will be seen as the number one mistake of the four nations’ approach. It did not become overwhelmed.

‘We spent £43 million on the Louisa Jordan hospital, that resource would have been a lot better spent on care homes.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Our priority has been to save lives in whatever setting, including care homes.’