Seven more die in care home as Sturgeon told to ‘learn lessons’

SEVEN residents have died of Covid-19 at a care home – as a leading figure warns that the Scottish Government has failed to learn the lessons from the early months of the pandemic.

NHS Lothian yesterday said the deaths were the result of a ‘significant outbreak’ at Redmill Care Home in Whitburn, West Lothian, which is run by healthcare management company HC-One.

The health board revealed last week that coronavirus had been detected in the home.

Yesterday, a spokesman said: ‘Sadly, a total of seven residents of the home have now died.

‘Our thoughts are with their families and with care home staff at this very sad and difficult time.

‘As soon as the first case was identified the home was closed to visitors. All residents were isolated and additional testing of all staff and residents was introduced.’

It comes as a care home group owner warned that many vulnerable older people are being put at risk because the Scottish Government has not learned from mistakes made during the first wave of the pandemic, which included some 4,300 deaths in care homes.

Robert Kilgour, executive chairman of Renaissance Care, claimed a review should have been carried out as a priority – and accused Ministers of putting ‘politics before people’.

The Government pledged to hold a review but refused to say when it might take place. Last night, Mr Kilgour said: ‘For Nicola Sturgeon to stand up and say that she can’t have a “lessons learned” review just now because her officials are too busy fighting a second wave, it is frankly obscene and a real insult to the care home residents in the last six months that have tragically died, their families and friends.’

Mr Kilgour confirmed that one resident had died last week at one of his company’s homes, Milford House in Edinburgh.

He said that 14 residents had tested positive, with the majority showing mild symptoms, and that they are being treated at the home. Eighteen members of staff who had tested positive have all now recovered and returned to work.

Mr Kilgour said it was the first outbreak of the virus at that home, and after losing 48 residents across all 15 of its homes the company had reviewed workplaces and added new safety measures.

Last month, the First Minister announced plans to look into the creation of a National Care Service, following an independent review of adult social care.

Ms Sturgeon told MSPs the service could be a ‘lasting and positive legacy’ from the Covid crisis.

But Mr Kilgour said: ‘The Scottish Government haven’t carried out a lessons learned exercise but we have in our care homes and we have implemented policies and changes to the way we do things in consultation with Public Health Scotland. But that should have been the priority before reviewing how we provide social care.

‘I could be an old cynic and say is that for political reasons? It worries me that it is putting politics before people.

‘I call on [the First Minister] to have a lessons learned review as a matter of urgency.

‘If we had a review that would have reported back now, that could have saved lives this winter.’

He added: ‘The concerning thing I’ve heard being talked about is increasing relatives visiting.

‘If they are going to relax the visiting guidelines and allow relatives to come in with PPE and in residents’ rooms and having relatives coming in and out traipsing throughout the home... we are not going to be able to supervise that.

‘I am as keen as anyone to have families back in but it has to be when the time is right.’

The Scottish Government said: ‘There will be a public inquiry into all aspects of the impact and handling of Covid-19.

‘Reviews have already been carried out with Health and Social Care Partnerships and our immediate focus is on continuing to do everything necessary to apply the lessons learned and knowledge we have gained to save lives.’

‘Government is putting politics before people’