A home care worker in West Dunbartonshire has died after contracting coronavirus.

The First Minister paid tribute to the woman, who has not been named, stating the death “is a reminder that people working in health and care services are not just showing immense dedication and expertise – although they are – but they are also displaying great courage.”

Beth Culshaw, Chief Officer of West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “It is with deepest sadness that we can confirm a member of our team passed away yesterday.

"Our hearts go out to her family, friends and colleagues at this devastating time. Our dedicated staff are out in communities every day, delivering vital frontline services and working hard to support those most in need during this pandemic.

"We continue to follow all government and health guidance and are doing everything we can to protect, support and safeguard our workers, including by providing training and PPE.”

 The death was announced as the First Minister explained a modification to the way covid-19-associated deaths are recorded in Scotland, due to take effect in the middle of this week.

The National Records of Scotland is moving to a seven-day-a-week service and will report on Wednesday on deaths in the community from covid-19 that, as yet, have not been included in overall statistics.

“This will confirm the trend of a rapid increase in the number of cases...and of deaths” Nicola Sturgeon said.

 “There is certainly worse still to come before we turn the corner of this virus”.

It comes as a growing number of health and social care staff raise concerns around a lack of protective clothing available to them amid the pandemic.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman gave assurances today there were “adequate stocks” of all items of PPE.

healthandcare.scot has however heard from heath and social care workers that they are being left without basic protective kit as they deal with rising numbers of coronavirus patients.

On Saturday the deaths of 16 people at the Burlington care home in Glasgow were reported, 12 of whom has symptoms consistent with coronavirus.

The government’s policy to not admit anyone in a care home who is suspected of or is confirmed as having coronavirus has been met with anger from those who say this will deny people equitable access to potentially life-saving treatment.

The government has started to make testing available to key workers – NHS Tayside is the first to start testing health and social care staff and members of their households – but momentum has also been gathering behind those who say the UK has been too slow to build testing capacity for key workers and the general public.

 

 

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