Fears as 13 residents die in one care home

Covid-19 could inflict a terrible toll in Scotland’s care homes, experts warned yesterday, after 13 residents died after falling ill in one home.

Dr Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, which represents more than 800 of Scotland’s 1,000 care homes, warned the impact of the virus will be “horrendous”.

His warning came after 13 residents died at Burlington Court care home in Glasgow in the last week. None were tested for Covid-19 as they were not admitted to hospital but their families have been informed of a possible link with the virus. They all had underlying health conditions.

Yesterday, Dr Macaskill said: “People will have to realise that we are in the middle of one of the deadliest pandemics for decades and the impact of this on care homes will be horrendous.

“We are going to be faced with real tragedy and lives ending far before their time and staff traumatised by their experience in the care home sector.”

Dr Macaskill warned that there could be multiple deaths in care homes which are in towns and cities where there are a high number of cases of Covid-19.

He said: “To some extent we are just at the beginning of the pandemic in care homes in Scotland so we will see many more issues and unfortunately, tragically, multiple deaths as a result of the virus.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her thoughts were with all residents of Burlington Court and the families of the deceased.

Meanwhile, a Church of Scotland minister said her congregation will be “desperately shocked and saddened” by the deaths.

Rev Muriel Pearson, minister of Cranhill Parish Church, said members have been visiting residents of the home since it was built.