237 coronavirus deaths in care homes in Scotland

At least nine residents are believed to have died at Tranent Care Home since the start of April, as its operators warned that coronavirus cases were being reported in two-thirds of its homes.

HC-One, Britain’s largest care home operator, confirmed it was supporting staff and relatives at the Tranent home, one of two it operates in the county, after several deaths were related to Covid-19.

East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership has not issued figures for the number of people infected in homes in the county.

However a spokesperson said: "We are monitoring the situation constantly and we know that there are a number of people self-isolating and some people with positive tests in care homes across East Lothian.

"We are working closely with all care providers in East Lothian to support them as much as we can, working alongside the Public Health Team."

Sir David Behan, executive chair of HC-One, which operates 329 care homes across Scotland, England and Wales, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this week that two-thirds of the homes it operates had coronavirus present and estimated that one in three deaths of residents in the homes over the last three weeks were related to the virus.

East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership has not released any localised figures for the number of people in the county who have died from Covid-19-related illness either in hospital or the community.

It said it was following national guidelines, which have seen figures released only for deaths in the NHS Lothian region, which also includes Edinburgh, Midlothian and West Lothian, with no breakdown for each county.

Yesterday (Wednesday) the National Records of Scotland (NRS) said the number of deaths related to Covid-19 in Scotland up to April 12 was 962, with 148 deaths in the NHS Lothian area, making it the second highest number in a health board area, second only to Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which recorded 315 deaths.

However, the rate of deaths per head of population was 1.6 per 10,000 in the Lothians, compared to 2.7 per 10,000 in Greater Glasgow, and lower than several other health board areas.

The NRS said that one in four of the deaths involving coronavirus – 237 – occurred in care homes.

That came as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday that 433 care homes across Scotland had reported cases of Covid-19.

East Lothian MSP Iain Gray described news of the deaths of residents at Tranent Care Home as “terrible” and said it was important to ensure action was taken to contain the situation.

Taking to Twitter, he said: “This is terrible news and my thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones.

“Important that all steps taken now to contain this, protect staff and residents as far as possible.

“What can we do? Obey the guidelines, stay home and stay safe.”

HC-One said it was working with East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership to support staff and relatives of those who had died, as well as families of other residents in the 60-bed care home on the town’s Coal Neuk.

A spokesperson for the home said: “Caring for our residents and supporting our colleagues is at the heart of what we do, and we are doing everything we can to make sure our residents and colleagues stay safe and well throughout these challenging times. We have a comprehensive coronavirus contingency plan in place, which was created by our clinical director and reflects the latest Government guidance.

“We are working closely with our local health and care partners, and we are continuing to take action to secure the medical equipment, PPE (personal protective equipment) and supplies we need to protect residents and colleagues alike.

“The home is well stocked with thousands of items of PPE that are available to all colleagues. We have followed all UK and Scottish Government advice on PPE since the start of the outbreak, and the home has always had access to the PPE it needs to keep residents and colleagues safe.

“We are proud of our colleagues and how they have risen to the challenge of the coronavirus outbreak by showing huge dedication and commitment to our residents.

“We are providing round-the-clock support for all our teams, and are also grateful to relatives for their ongoing support and understanding.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with those families who have lost a loved one at this exceptionally difficult time, and we are doing what we can to support them.”

Alison Macdonald, chief officer, East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (ELHSCP), said: “We would like to express our sincere condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and we would reassure them that we are working closely with care homes to help protect patients, families and staff.

“East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership has worked hard to ensure care providers have the vital supplies of PPE they need.

“In addition, stocks are being monitored daily to ensure they are replenished before they are required. We also continue to provide ongoing support, training and advice.”

An ELHSCP spokesperson said: “We are monitoring the situation constantly and we know that there are a number of people self-isolating and some people with positive tests in care homes across East Lothian. We are working closely with all care providers in East Lothian to support them as much as we can, working alongside the public health team.”

David Forrest, chair of Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council, said: “My condolences go out to all of the families.

“My mother is in a care home and I can’t get in to see her. I feel very sorry for the relatives of these people who couldn’t get in to see them. It’s a really sad case.

“It is a difficult time for all the families. To lose someone in that way in a care home and not be able to see them must be horrible. All I can say is condolences to the families.”

Colin McGinn, ward councillor, said: “I think the whole community has been left reeling by the announcement.

“It is such a really, really difficult period and it is so sad that we are going to lose citizens, elderly or not elderly. Such a large loss of life is devastating.”

The UK Government yesterday said it would carry out testing of care home residents and staff who display coronavirus symptoms after it was hit with a backlash of anger over a lack of recording of deaths of elderly residents.

Age UK claimed the virus was “running wild” in care homes, with its director Caroline Abrahams claiming the official death figures were “airbrushing older people out like they don’t matter”.