Scottish Sun - Care Home Claim



The Scottish Sun reports on the experience of a doctor who says he had to fight to have his mother transferred from her Edinburgh care home to hospital for treatment.

A spokesperson for the GP practice responsible for the care home in question told the paper:

 "I interpreted that guidance as saying we should be avoiding sending people to hospital."

The Scottish Government insists the claim is not true despite what appears to be very powerful evidence from the woman's son (the doctor) and the local GP practice.

No doubt the looming public inquiry will get to the bottom of things.

 


https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/5672863/coronavirus-scotland-care-home-hospitals-doctor-mum/

'IMMORAL'
Coronavirus Scotland: Doctor claims Scottish Government advice on care home transfers to hospital ‘left mum for dead’


By Ewan Mowat - Scottish Sun

A DOCTOR claims Scottish Government guidance on transferring care home residents to hospitals nearly cost his mum her life.

The 44-year-old branded advice discouraging transfers as "immoral" and said his mother only got life-saving treatment after he insisted she was moved.

A doctor has claimed ScotGov advice on care home residents' tranfers to hospitals nearly killed his mum Credit: Alamy

But the government insists it has never advised care home residents shouldn't be moved to hospital.

The cardiologist told Sky News: "It's one of the darkest things I've seen in my 11 years practising medicine.

"The care home said hospital transfers for patients from a nursing home with Covid-19 was not something they were allowed to do. For reasons that are completely unclear to me, there's been this blanket decision.

"There is no doubt in my mind that lives have been lost because of this.

Coronavirus deaths in Scotland could hit zero by the end of THIS MONTH, claims expert

"What you're doing is taking the most vulnerable individuals in our society and you're standing back and almost rolling the dice. I think it's immoral."

A spokesperson for the Edinburgh GP practice which makes decisions on residents at that nursing home said: "I interpreted that guidance as saying we should be avoiding sending people to hospital."


Government advice for nursing and care home residents, issued on March 13, included the following guidance: "It is not advised that residents in long term care are admitted to hospital for ongoing management but are managed within their current setting."

Two days later, it was changed to say: "Every effort should be made to deliver care and treatment to individuals within their homely setting.

"Where this is not possible and in the best interests of the individual, a transfer to hospital may be necessary to meet their care needs and in keeping with their choices."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Scottish government has from the outset taken firm action to protect care home staff and residents. The reported claim is not true.

"Our guidance has never advised that care home residents should not be transferred to hospital.

"Decisions about care and treatment, including hospital admission, should always be based on an individual clinical basis, based on the person's best interests and in consultation with the individual or their families and representatives.

"Where someone is receiving ongoing stable long-term care it is advised that this be managed in their current residence if possible."

In response to being questioned on the changing of advice from March 13 to 15, a spokesperson said: "Our guidance has been consistent that care home residents have and will be admitted to hospital if that is the clinical advice."

Popular posts from this blog

SNP - Conspiracy of Silence

LGB Rights - Hijacked By Intolerant Zealots!