More than 200 residents die at HC-One homes in Scotland

A care home company at the centre of an outbreak on Skye has confirmed a total of 207 residents have died within its Scottish facilities.

HC-One said it had recorded 1002 confirmed or suspected cases of Covid-19 within its 56 homes north of the border since the crisis began.

Over the weekend, it was confirmed a tenth resident had died at Home Farm care home in Portree.

To date, 30 residents and 29 staff members have tested positive for the virus.

NHS Highland is now helping to run the home after the Care Inspectorate raised “serious and significant concerns”.

HC-One has been publishing its coronavirus figures on its website since April.

The company posted: “The impact of Covid-19 on us, on the UK and the world is unprecedented, and there is a professional and public interest to learn about its impact and discuss this openly.

“Consequently, we have decided to share the number of suspected or confirmed Covid-19 cases and the number of residents who have sadly lost their lives, at a company level.

“These numbers are cumulative since the start of the UK Covid-19 outbreak.

“These numbers encompass confirmed tests and suspected cases in our homes, based on the clinical assessment of a GP, community matron or a member of our own clinical team.

“We are supporting the families of all of those residents who have been affected and those who have lost their lives, and our thoughts and condolences are with all those who have lost loved ones.

“If there has been an outbreak at a home, or if there has been a change in a resident’s health or care, we have been informing the respective relatives as a matter of priority.”

Last Wednesday, STV revealed that more than 1400 deaths involving Covid-19 to date in Scotland have occurred in care homes – 45% of the total.

The proportion of fatalities in care homes has been steadily rising week-on-week from 25% in mid-April.

In response to the crisis, the Scottish Government has announced it is aiming to fast-track emergency laws which will allow it to step in and take over the running of failing care homes.

On Sunday, health secretary Jeane Freeman stressed that the powers, which would ensure the “continuity of care and support”, would only be used as a “last resort”.

Whilst the Scottish Government is already taking action where standards fall short, the new measures – if passed – will provide additional reassurance to staff, residents and their families that “further action will be taken to address any failings that arise, and will be taken quickly”.