Short, sharp and now: Leading families calling for swift, urgent
A short, sharp and urgent inquiry into how Covid was allowed to sweep through Scotland’s care homes must be launched immediately, according to Scotland’s leading charity for the elderly.
Age Scotland has joined bereaved families, care workers and human rights organisations to demand a swift investigation into why 2,000 residents died in the first wave of the virus. They urged First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to order a review to report within weeks in an attempt to learn lessons as a second wave looms.
They spoke out after publication of a report into the discharge of dozens of Covidpositive patients from hospital into homes after health boards were ordered to clear NHS beds in the weeks before and after lockdown in March.
On Wednesday MSPS will be asked to vote on whether to launch an investigation as the Scottish Conservatives call for a judge-led inquiry.
Public Health Scotland (PHS) published a delayed report last week, ordered by ministers in response to a Sunday Post investigation that found dozens of patients with Covid were sent into care homes.
The PHS report confirmed 113 patients with Covid were moved, with 52 transferred within a week of a positive diagnosis, 38 within eight to 14 days. The report also said 3,061 untested patients were transferred between March 1 and May 31, with some moved to care homes after a policy change that required two negative tests before discharge.
More than 2,000 deaths in care homes have been linked to coronavirus with many relatives and staff insisting the virus was brought in by patients moved in their thousands in a government-led bid to clear beds over fears hospitals would be overwhelmed.
Ms Sturgeon insisted hospital transfers were not statistically significant but PHS later said it was “likely hospital discharges are the source of introduction of infection in a small number of cases”. That statement was not in the report.
Age Scotland chief executive Brian Sloan said a public inquiry previously promised by Ms Sturgeon should start now. He said: “Producing an interim report as quickly as possible would help shed more light on the situation and identify steps which must be taken through the winter, and beyond.”
Campaign group Covid- 19