24 coronavirus deaths confirmed at veterans care homes in Scotland
Erskine Care Homes says three of the residents who died had been tested for Covid-19 while the other 21 deaths were presumed cases
A group of care homes for veterans and their spouses has reported 24 deaths over the past month during the coronavirus pandemic.
A spokeswoman for Erskine Care Homes said three of the residents who died had been tested for Covid-19 while the other 21 deaths were presumed cases.
Erskine Care Homes runs four facilities housing a total 339 residents, with two in the area of its name - Bishopton in Renfrewshire - and further sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Eleven deaths were at the main facility - The Erskine Home, which has 180 residents - while 12 were recorded at the nearby Erskine Park Home.
The Erskine Edinburgh Home on Gilmerton Road had one death, and no confirmed or presumed coronavirus deaths have been recorded at the Erskine Glasgow Home on Dorchester Avenue.
The spokeswoman confirmed 90 residents over the four homes had been “barrier nursed” to prevent further infection.
This means anyone showing symptoms was isolated in their room and only in contact with workers wearing personal protective equipment.
Of those who had been barrier nursed, 48 had recovered.
Earlier on Wednesday, the owner of Renaissance Care - which has 15 properties across the country - said the lives of residents in such homes are at “grave risk” without more urgent funding from the Scottish Government and local councils.
The latest National Records of Scotland figures show more than half of deaths involving the virus between April 20 and April 26 occurred in care homes.
Erskine is a registered charity so has to raise around £10 million a year to continue providing care.
A statement from its chief executive Ian Cumming on Tuesday said: “We are very grateful to our donors and supporters who make cash donations, or offer their own businesses' PPE to bolster these stocks.
“We are also reassured to now have the Scottish Government's PPE triage hub as a back-up supplier. Erskine has now been able to access a number of new commercial PPE supply routes.
“Home managers and the procurement department carefully monitor changing need and order new stocks as necessary.
“Erskine prides itself on the high-quality, compassionate and family-centred care that it delivers to Scotland's veterans.
“We continue to work with fellow members of Scottish Care, NHS and Government colleagues to ensure that Covid-19 testing becomes available at scale throughout all social care settings.”
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