Crown Office Data On COVID-19 Care Home Deaths

Responding to this morning’s (Monday 19 April) Crown Office publication of data surrounding COVID-19 and care home deaths in Scotland, GMB Scotland Secretary Gary Smith said:

“Before the first lockdown, care home staff were ringing the alarm about the vulnerability of services users and themselves. Those concerns were dismissed and even derided by the Scottish Government and care industry representatives.

“The reality is that while Ministers were clapping for carers, staff were having to fight for the proper PPE and workplace testing, the basic tools needed to try and protect their health and safety and their service users too.

“There is no credibility in hiding behind poorly executed reports or investigations that focus on ordinary workers who had no say whatsoever in the decisions that led to one-third of all COVID related deaths to date occurring care homes.

“We need a public inquiry where the inaction of all responsible will be laid bare.”

ENDS

Contact: Rhea Wolfson, GMB Scotland Women’s Campaign Unit on 07850 575023, or GMB Scotland Communications on 07976 447077.