The recent publication of a delayed report by Public Health Scotland on discharges from hospitals to care homes highlighted why the Scottish Government must immediately facilitate a public inquiry into the COVID-19 response in care homes.
The report confirmed the shocking statistics that 113 Covid-positive patients were discharged from hospital into care homes and 3,061 individuals were sent to care homes without receiving a test between March and May.
These revelations are hugely worrying and the SNP Government’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak in care homes is no less than a national scandal.
There is a serious and pressing need for answers to be offered on key issues relating to care homes.
For instance, the number of positive tests in a care home setting where an outbreak of the virus was experienced following the transfer of a Covid-positive hospital patient must be established.
It is also vital that we find out in early course when exactly the First Minister learned that Covid-positive patients were being discharged from hospitals into care homes and what steps she then took to investigate.
Clarity on such questions is needed now and an immediate public inquiry is essential.
Until a vaccine has been successfully developed and rolled out across Scotland and the UK, we are going to be living with the pandemic.
We are now submerged in a second wave of the virus and sadly, there may be further waves beyond this.
That is why the public inquiry must begin immediately because no one can be certain how long the coronavirus pandemic will last.
The previous mistakes in care homes must be learned from and having an inquiry now could save lives.
Last week at Holyrood, MSP’s voted for an early public inquiry.
The SNP Government must respect the will of the Scottish Parliament and launch one now.
In Eastwood, I have received a huge amount of enquiries from elderly constituents and their families over the delivery of the free flu jab this year.
Many elderly and vulnerable residents over the age of 65 have been left very distressed over the timescales involved for the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board to arrange their vaccines.
It was subsequently made known that the reason why many people in this age group had not received their flu jab letters in the early part of the first stage of vaccinations from October is because the software being used to allocate appointments gives priority to the youngest of the over 65’s.
Many people in their 80’s and 90’s were left genuinely afraid that they had been abandoned to the fates of the winter and this was completely unacceptable.
In the final days of October, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde issued an apology for the problems experienced with delivering the free flu jab in 2020 and said that all letters for the 65 plus age group would be sent by the end of that week.
It is imperative that everyone who is 65 and over in Eastwood is given the opportunity to receive the vaccine before the flu season starts in December.