Health minister to probe testing delays at Keith care home
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THE Scottish health minister was quizzed today over a near three-week delay in completing testing at a Moray care home after a case of COVID-19 was confirmed.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman accepted that the delay at Keith’s Glenisla care home was unacceptable after questioning by Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston at Holyrood earlier today, Tuesday, May 19.
Mr Halcro Johnston said the delay had put the safety of both residents and staff at further risk.
Ms Freeman assured Mr Halcro Johnston that she would look again into the case and also at concerns that some of the tests appear to have taken five days to process.
She also confirmed official guidance that, in care homes where there were confirmed cases, secondary testing should take place and she would investigate claims that this was not being made available to Glenisla.
Mr Halcro Johnston, who has previously raised concerns over the delays with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, said: "I am disappointed that, three weeks after the original case of COVID-19 was confirmed, and having raised this case with the first minister, I’m still having to chase up the Scottish Government to make sure their own guidance in followed.
"When a case of COVID-19 is confirmed in a care home, testing all residents and staff is absolutely critical in identifying any spread of the virus and should be a priority.
"However, in this case, I’ve been advised that, even when testing had been conducted, some of those tests appear to have taken five days to process, despite the clear need to identify any new cases as a matter of urgency.
"Prompt testing, following by secondary testing, would give care homes the best chance of identifying any new cases, isolating those with the virus. It should happen as a matter of course – but hasn’t here.
"Unfortunately, ministerial rhetoric seems to be very different to what is happening on the ground.
"The Scottish Government need to get their act together – and fast – so that staff, residents and residents’ families can be assured that all is being done to reduce the risk COVID-19 presents to our care homes."
Mr Halcro Johnston has written to Ms Freeman again, seeking clarification on the authorities’ response to the situation at Glenisla, and says he will continue to exert pressure for secondary testing to be implemented.
Three cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed at Glenisla.
Parklands, which runs the home, confirmed at the weekend that two residents had tested positive for the virus.
Parklands said the third case was a member of the ancillary support team. However, contrary to that claim, the Northern Scot understands it is in fact a care worker who has tested positive for the virus.
