Resident at Glenisla Care Home dies of coronavirus
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A RESIDENT at Glenisla Care Home in Keith has died of coronavirus.
The woman, who had "serious underlying health conditions", tested positive for covid-19 on May 1 and has since died in hospital.
Ron Taylor, managing director of Parklands Care Homes, which runs Glenisla, said: “We are saddened to confirm that a resident of Glenisla, who previously tested positive for covid-19 while receiving hospital treatment, passed away in hospital.
"News of her passing was communicated to her family members and to the Care Inspectorate and Moray Council.
"The residents and staff at Glenisla extend their condolences to her family at this difficult time.
"We share their grief at the loss of our beloved resident.”
Two more residents and a carer tested positive for coronavirus, it was announced at the weekend, after a series of tests.
Ron Taylor is now calling for further testing to be made available to the home by NHS Grampian.
He added: "In terms of testing, we have been consistent in our approach that all residents and staff be tested. Once the initial covid-19 case was confirmed, we made urgent and repeated representations to elected representatives and public health officials that comprehensive testing be carried out.
"We have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Health this week to express our concern at the delay in testing and the further delay in the release of those test results - a situation which she acknowledged this week in Parliament was not acceptable. In order to contain this virus effectively, we need timely intelligence and this was lacking.
"We welcome the announcement that care staff will be offered regular testing from next week. However, we have also pressed the Cabinet Secretary for secondary testing of all residents at Glenisla so that we can provide peace of mind to residents and their loved ones.
“We are in regular contact with relatives, many of whom are growing increasingly anxious at the lack of secondary testing for residents, and we share their anger and frustration. This is a matter we have raised at the highest level of the Scottish Government. Ultimately, it requires action from Ministers and public health officials. We are ready to facilitate secondary testing as soon as there is agreement to proceed.
“Throughout this unprecedented global health crisis, we have put the welfare of our residents and our hard-working employees first, and we will continue to do so."
