Opposition parties are piling on the pressure for an immediate inquiry after it emerged some hospital patients who tested positive for covid were discharged to care homes. But Scottish Care, which represents independent social care organisations, says now is not the right time.

Instead the body says uniting families and keeping residents safe is more important.

In contrast, the Scottish Conservatives have said “waiting is not an option” and that an inquiry must begin this week.

Their demand comes after a Sunday Post investigation found dozens of patients who had tested positive for covid were sent from hospitals into care homes near the beginning of the pandemic.

But Nicola Sturgeon has said she cannot compel any inquiry to report by a certain time.

Scottish Care CEO Dr Donald Macaskill says there has been no indication of when an inquiry may begin, despite promises from both the First Minister and Health Secretary that there will be one.

Speaking today, Nicola Sturgeon said proper scrutiny of “all and any” decisions made during the pandemic was essential, including the discharge of people from hospital to care homes.

She stressed guidance in place in the middle of March – as covid-19 cases numbers were rising rapidly – required clinical screening of hospital transfers and social isolation in care homes for people who had been sent there.

The First Minister insisted that at every stage her government had sought to make sure that “appropriate guidance” was in place and this had evolved as the evidence had.

Scottish Care said: “Learning lessons from Covid-19 is critical in case we do face a second wave.

“We hope that there will be a human rights inquiry into the pandemic and specifically on the experience of older people in care homes and in the community.

“But, at this time, countless workers and providers are still fighting to keep people safe and to unite families. This is our priority now and will continue to be a priority for the coming months.

“A public inquiry will be critical, but this is not the right time to focus on that.”

 

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