Charity backing bereaved inquiry into care home deaths

Bereaved Families for Justice spokesman Dr Alan Wightman, whose mother Helen died of the virus in a Fife care home, said: “We want an immediate rapid phase to begin now and report within four weeks. That way lessons can be learned now which will save lives this winter.”

Chairwoman of the Scottish Human Rights Commission Ju d i t h Robertson said: “Human rights law requires that any such investigation must be completed promptly and within a reasonable time. Lessons from the first wave must be learned quickly.”

GMB Scotland Organiser Rhea Wolfson also backed the call for an investigations. “The events of the last few days reinforce the need for an urgent full and independent public inquiry,” he said.

Dr Donald Macaskill of Scottish Care, the membership organisation for private care homes, said the Scottish Government must commission more research into the tragedy. He said: “I have been told by individual staff and organisations it is their very heartfelt belief there was a causal link between hospital patient transfers and the virus getting into a care home. They need to be heard.”

Scottish and UK Government adviser professor Stephen Reicher, of St Andrews

University, also called for another study. He said: “I can understand the argument we need to get on with the pandemic response but we need information in order that mistakes are not repeated.”

MSPS will be asked to vote for a Scottish Conservative motion calling for an inquiry to be launched. Scottish Conservative Holyrood leader Ruth Davidson said: “This week the Scottish Conservatives will ask the parliament to back an immediate, judge- led public inquiry with the power to investigate every element of how this scandal unfolded.”

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie backed the call. “Learning quick lessons remains incredibly important, especially when it comes to caring for the most vulnerable people in our society,” he said.

The Scottish Government said: “We are in the grip of a second wave of Covid- 19 and the necessary full public inquiry will take place when the time for that is right – once we have got the country through the next stage of the pandemic. In the meantime, as the First Minister made clear in parliament this week, we will continue to learn and to apply lessons in care homes so that we continue to take all possible steps to keep those in our care homes safe.”