Border MSP welcomes inquiry into Covid-19 deaths at care homes

Rachel Hamilton MSP speaking during the debate on a care homes inquiry

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had refused to commit to immediately launching a judge-led inquiry, leading to accusations that grieving families have been betrayed.

However, opposition MSPs backed a Scottish Conservatives motion for the inquiry to be launched without any further delay by a vote of 64 to 1, with 57 abstentions.

Last month, Public Health Scotland published a report which revealed more than 100 Covid-positive and thousands of untested hospital patients were sent into care homes at the start of the pandemic.

In total 137 people were discharged from Borders hospitals into 20 of the 26 care homes across the region between March 1 and May 31.

Ms Hamilton spoke in the care homes debate, and called for clarification for the numbers of patients who tested positive in the Borders who were discharged to care homes.

She said the families ‘have been let down’ and that the fiasco in care homes is ‘nothing short of a scandal’.

Ms Hamilton has called on the Scottish Government to respect the will of Parliament.

She said: “Parliament has now spoken and Nicola Sturgeon must listen, there can be no more delays on a care homes inquiry.

“It is utterly unacceptable that grieving families have still not been given answers by the Scottish Government on their loved ones in care homes.

“An inquiry won’t bring them back, but I hope it will give families some closure at what must be a very difficult time.

“The will of Parliament must now be honoured, people need answers”.

Ms Hamilton has also called on the Scottish Government to guarantee NHS Borders be able to carry out vital operations wherever possible.

This comes after new figures from Public Health Scotland showed that between April and September only 446 took place in the Borders, compared to an average of 2497 between 2016 and 2019.

Ms Hamilton said: “While we must do all we can to tackle the rise in Covid cases, patients in the Borders who are waiting for vital operations must not be forgotten about.

“It is concerning that potentially over 2000 operations have been cancelled or put on hold in the last six months.

“The Scottish Government must ensure that NHS Borders and frontline staff are given the urgent resources necessary to ensure procedures can take place wherever possible.

“As we head into winter, waiting times for operations in the Borders cannot spiral out of control.”