Age Scotland response to Public Health Scotland report on discharges from hospitals to care homes

Age Scotland says further investigation is needed into decisions made at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, following the publication of an updated report from Public Health Scotland.

Age Scotland’s Chief Executive, Brian Sloan, said:

“As with the original report, this update will be upsetting reading for those who have lost loved ones in care homes to Covid-19 during this difficult year. It further confirms the concerns we’ve been voicing over the last year and highlights the severe toll the virus has taken on Scotland’s care homes.

“The transfer of Covid patients to care homes before a robust testing regime was in place certainly didn’t help control the spread of the virus, and may have put other residents and staff at further risk of infection at an already critical time.

"It has become increasingly apparent that the safeguards which patients, residents, family members, care homes and the public relied on were not as robust as they should have been.

“While they do provide some clarity, these figures alone are not enough to paint a full picture of what happened in care homes during the height of the pandemic and why. Further investigation must address unanswered questions and gain the closure that the families and loved ones of those affected desperately deserve.”