STURGEON ‘MUST QUIT OVER DEATHS SCANDAL’
THE son of a care home resident who died of suspected coronavirus has called on Nicola Sturgeon to resign over the hospital patient discharge scandal.
George Hillhouse’s mother Helen Smith, 74, died a year ago at Almond Court care home in Glasgow’s Drumchapel area. She was not tested and Mr Hillhouse said he had not been made aware another resident had symptoms of the virus after returning to the home from hospital. He found out only after both pensioners had died.
Last night, he said: ‘Jeane Freeman allowed people to be sent from hospital to care homes without testing and without PPE.
‘But she takes her instructions from the head of the Scottish Government – and that’s Nicola Sturgeon. She should be held responsible and should step down.’
More than 1,300 people were discharged from hospitals to care homes. A report published in October showed that 113 people were moved between March 1 and May 31, despite having Covid.
Last week, Ms Freeman admitted the Government had wanted people who no longer needed to be in hospital to be discharged quickly to free up beds. She said they ‘didn’t take the right precautions’ and this was a ‘mistake’.
Mr Hillhouse, along with four other people whose mothers died at Almond Court have launched a legal action against the home, run by Holmes Care.
Last night, an SNP spokesman said: ‘The First Minister recently met with families who have tragically lost loved ones during the pandemic, and committed to a public inquiry to be established by the end of the year into the handling of coronavirus, which will include care homes.
‘At all times we have taken the decisions we thought were best, in good faith and based on evidence.
‘We’ve learned more about how the virus spreads in care homes.
‘We have learned lessons throughout the pandemic, resulting in more lives being saved.’