We owe it to those who lost loved ones, they need answers

The publication of the hospital to care home discharge data from the early months of this pandemic has come, in large part, because of the investigations undertaken by The Sunday Post.

The report’s purpose was to uncover the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in patients discharged to care homes and the direct impact this may have had.

It will be grim reading for the families of those who lost their lives or have been seriously ill as a result of this cruel virus.

Mistakes were made in the early stages of the pandemic, and knowingly discharging patients into care homes following positive tests will not have helped control the spread of the virus.

We have repeatedly stressed that the only way to ensure mistakes are never repeated is to investigate and learn from them. Now, as we face a second wave with winter just around the corner, the sooner this process can begin the better.

As such, a further inquiry is important and should begin as soon as possible. It should also look into the experiences of care home residents, their families and staff throughout the pandemic.

Now that there has been time to digest the findings from this week’s report and consider what they mean in a wider context, a broader inquiry should also investigate whether enough was done to protect and uphold the human rights of care home residents. The virus continues to take a heavy toll on residents, their families and staff, and this impact must be at the heart of any future inquiry.

It is important this investigation does not get in the way of the day-to-day running of care homes or the effective delivery of health and social care.

However, producing an interim report as quickly as possible would help shed more light on the situation and identify the necessary steps which must be taken through the winter, and beyond.

There are also a number of questions left unanswered. We need to know whether care homes received enough support at the beginning of this crisis in terms of PPE availability, testing and maintaining appropriate staffing levels, not to mention how decisions were reached that resulted in patients being discharged into care homes without being tested.

We also need to know if care home residents were given enough access to medical treatment if they fell ill.

We recently recommended that the Scottish Government draw up a new action plan, setting out how they will support older people to live well and safely throughout winter, part of which focuses on delivering what is required to strengthen and protect social care.

The priority at all times – and basis of decision-making – should have been the safety and best interests of older people.

We owe it to the loved ones of those who sadly lost their lives to coronavirus, and those receiving care, to secure answers and stop this happening again.