Shadow Health Secretary Donald Cameron is taking action to force the Scottish Government to begin an inquiry into why Covid patients were sent to care homes.
Mr Cameron, a Highlands and Islands MSP, has submitted a parliamentary question following a Sunday Post investigation that found dozens of patients who had already tested positive for Covid were sent from hospitals into care homes.
Mr Cameron, said: “Frankly, it is very disappointing that it takes an investigation from a newspaper to bring this matter to light in the first case."
“And today, we have found out that 17,000 care home staff are still not being tested on a regular basis, which flies in the face of Jeane Freeman’s claim that testing is a weekly occurrence."
“Families of victims, here in the Highlands and across Scotland, have been left in the dark about how their loved ones died – and they still don’t know the full picture."
“I have submitted a question to Parliament so we can finally get the answers and full transparency that victims and their families deserve.”
Scottish Conservative research has revealed that 17,000 care home staff are still not being tested each week, despite Jeane Freeman’s claims to the contrary.
This is the fourth day in a row of serious questions about SNP testing transparency. It follows criticism of the SNP Government from public health expert Linda Bauld of Edinburgh University on Friday, and news that only one Aberdeen pub has been asked for its customer lists on Saturday.
Dr Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, said in the Sunday Post: “At frequent points both the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Health have stated there will be a public inquiry. The First Minister has further stated it would be human rights based, which is what we have called for, but we have had no indication when that will be” (Sunday Post, link).
The 17,000 figure comes from the total number of care home staff (53,500) minus the number of positive and negative tests of care home staff (36,128).
· There are approximately 53,500 care home staff in Scotland. Source here: link.
· In the week ending 6 August, only 36,128 care home staff were tested. Figures are available at this link by adding the number of positive and negative care home staff tested: link.
· Further historic data on the testing of care home staff can be found at this link: link.
