Sixty individuals residing in native care houses have died after contracting Covid-19 because the starting of the pandemic, in keeping with new figures.
Statistics launched by the Care Inspectorate present that within the final yr alone, there have been 15 deaths in services throughout West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Lomond.
The info has been described as “heartbreaking” by Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie, who says it’s important a public inquiry focuses on classes which could be discovered.
HC-One run Fortress View Care Residence in Dumbarton stays the worst affected facility with a complete of 23 Covid-related deaths since March 2020, seven of which have occurred between March 2021 and Might this yr.
At West Dunbartonshire Council-run Crosslet Home Care Residence, there have been 11 deaths all through the pandemic, none of which have occurred between March 2021 and Might this yr.
And at Balquhidder in Alexandria, there was yet another demise since March 2021 that means Covid-related fatalities there complete 12.
Each Strathleven and Sunningdale report no deaths regarding Covid.
In Helensburgh, Northwood Home Care House is worst affected with six deaths, one in all which has occurred since March 2021.
The Argyle Care Centre has reported 4 deaths, Lochside Home has had three Covid-related deaths and Morar Lodge has had one.
Hermitage Home reviews no Covid-related deaths.
The brand new figures come weeks after a ruling on the Excessive Court docket in England that the UK Authorities’s related coverage on discharging untested sufferers into care houses was illegal.
Ms Baillie, who obtained the newest statistics, has demanded the First Minister “faces as much as the doubtless illegal resolution” her authorities made by discharging sufferers from hospitals to care houses, with out testing, on the top of the pandemic.
She mentioned: “It's actually unhappy to listen to that 60 residents in native care houses have died from Covid and that this complete has elevated by 15 in simply over a yr.
“That is heartbreaking for the households as every of those statistics represents somebody who was liked and will probably be sorely missed.
“It's crucial that folks realise that, though restrictions have been lifted, Covid nonetheless poses a menace notably to these in weak teams together with the aged.
“It was disappointing final month that, regardless of the landmark ruling in England, Nicola Sturgeon did not admit her Authorities made doubtlessly illegal errors at the beginning of the pandemic which has price lives.
“It's critical that a public inquiry which has been promised by the SNP Authorities focuses on classes which could be discovered from the pandemic notably the place individuals have died and the way these tragedies could possibly be prevented if this case arises once more.”
Public Well being Scotland information has beforehand confirmed that untested sufferers had been despatched to native services all through spring 2020 on the top of the pandemic.
A Scottish Authorities spokeswoman mentioned: “Firstly our ideas are with each single household which has misplaced a liked one in the course of the course of the pandemic.
“Our precedence all through the pandemic has been to save lots of lives and now we have sought to take the most effective choices, based mostly on the most effective scientific and scientific proof that now we have had at any given time, to maintain individuals residing and dealing in our care houses as secure as doable.
“Scottish ministers established an impartial Scottish Covid-19 public inquiry on December 14, 2021.
“The aim of the inquiry is to supply scrutiny and solutions to the questions individuals have concerning the dealing with of the pandemic, and to study classes.
“Within the revealed phrases of reference for the general public inquiry, the federal government has included the difficulty of discharge to care
houses.”