Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“These figures show the devastating affect that Covid-19 has had on Care Homes in Scotland.
“My thoughts are with all the families whose loved ones have died from Covid-19 throughout the last year.
“SNP Ministers were completely unprepared for Covid-19, with a lack of PPE and unclear guidance for care homes.
“The decision by SNP Ministers to move Covid-19 positive hospital patients to care homes, without being tested, is the single biggest failure throughout the pandemic.
“The Scottish Conservatives have called for a full public inquiry into care home deaths in Scotland and these figures reinforce the need for that inquiry.”
The Crown Office yesterday published data on the Covid deaths in care homes that have been reported to it. The prosecution service was considering at least 3,400 deaths linked to Covid-19 as of 8 April.
The data, which was released to BBC Scotland under a Freedom of Information request, is part of a wider investigation to determine whether the deaths should be subject to the fatal accident inquiry (FAI) mechanism or prosecution.
The figures reveal some individual care homes accounted for a significant number of deaths.
HC-One’s Orchard Care Centre in Clackmannanshire accounted for 19 per cent of that council’s total fatalities (110).
Deaths were higher on average in homes where the provider owns one facility as opposed to a chain. For example, 25 deaths were reported in the one home operated by BUPA Care Homes, while 195 deaths were reported across Advinia’s 11 homes, averaging to roughly 17 per residence.
A Scottish government spokeswomansaid the Crown Office data was “consistent with the findings” of a Public Health Scotland report which “did not find statistical evidence that hospital discharges of any kind were associated with care home outbreaks”.
She added: “We mourn every death from Covid and express our sympathy for all those who have lost loved ones, and for the distress and grief experienced by individuals and their families.
“As the first minister and health secretary have previously said the Scottish government will continue to learn lessons from the Covid-pandemic and, subject to the outcome of the election, intends to have a full public inquiry which considers all aspects of how the pandemic has been handled, including the impact on care homes and their residents.”
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has said the Scottish government “didn’t respond quickly enough to what was needed in our care homes”. Ms Freeman is standing down at next month’s Holyrood elections.
A spokesperson for the Crown Office said: “CDIT [Covid-19 Deaths Investigation Team] is working together with other agencies including the Health and Safety Executive, local authorities and the Care Inspectorate to ensure that appropriate investigations are undertaken in relation to these deaths.
“These arrangements will ensure that the circumstances of each death can be fully considered by this dedicated team, and appropriate decisions made about any further investigation required, whether criminal or non-criminal.”
In a statement, Scottish Care said: “We note the publication by the BBC of data supplied by the Crown Office detailing the deaths of hundreds of people in Scotland’s care homes during the pandemic.
“This data demonstrates the terrible toll which has been felt by those who live, visit loved ones, and work in care homes as a result of Coronavirus. However, whilst the numbers tell us one story there are many things which they do not communicate.
“The numbers do not describe the unique lives of special individuals who have been lost to the pandemic. Lives which have been cut short before their time by a deadly virus. Behind each number is an individual who is loved and greatly missed by family and friends. Their loss is felt too by care home staff who have cared for and supported them for many months and years.
“The numbers do not describe the sad reality that those living in group and congregated settings such as care homes have been disproportionately affected across the world. They do not describe the reality that those who have suffered the most and who have died across the world are those who are very old and frail, and those living with multiple co-morbidities.
“The numbers do not describe at what point in the pandemic lives were lost in individual care homes. The number may describe deaths in multiple outbreaks across a long period of time or they may equally be a description of an intense and overwhelming single incident.
“The numbers do not detail at what point of time the deaths occurred in the last year. They do not describe whether they happened after testing had been introduced for frontline care staff after we learned the lessons of asymptomatic spread and the risk this posed to residents.
“The numbers do not describe whether individuals had been transferred from hospital or community, potentially carrying the virus into the care home.
“The numbers do not describe whether or not the deaths occurred at a time when we know less than we do now about the use of PPE and other infection control measures which are now protecting so many.
“The numbers do not describe whether these deaths happened during this particularly hard second wave with a much more virulent strain of the virus which has had such a devastating impact.
“The numbers of deaths tell part of the story but what they certainly do not tell of is the amazing professionalism, sacrifice and dedication of frontline nursing and care staff who daily put themselves at risk and on the line to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens facing the threat of this deadly global virus.
“As we consider the numbers, we remember all the lives lost and the dedication of those who worked to save life. As we consider the numbers, we would ask everyone to reach out to support the care homes, staff, residents and families affected and to do so with compassion and solidarity.”
Responding to yesterday’s Crown Office publication of data surrounding COVID-19 and care home deaths in Scotland, GMB Scotland Secretary Gary Smith said: “Before the first lockdown, care home staff were ringing the alarm about the vulnerability of services users and themselves.
“Those concerns were dismissed and even derided by the Scottish Government and care industry representatives.
“The reality is that while Ministers were clapping for carers, staff were having to fight for the proper PPE and workplace testing, the basic tools needed to try and protect their health and safety and their service users too.
“There is no credibility in hiding behind poorly executed reports or investigations that focus on ordinary workers who had no say whatsoever in the decisions that led to one-third of all COVID related deaths to date occurring care homes.
“We need a public inquiry where the inaction of all responsible will be laid bare.”
