Inquiry told care home residents treated like "exhibits" due to Covid rules
Care homes were the focus on the first day of evidence to the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry in Edinburgh
Last updated 24th Oct 2023
The Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry has heard care home residents were treated like “exhibits in a reptile house” because of restrictions.
A lawyer representing some families was giving evidence on the first day of the hearing in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
Amber Galbraith KC was speaking on behalf of Care Home Relatives Scotland (CHRS), one of the core participants of the inquiry.
Chaired by Lord Brailsford, it will investigate the response by the Scottish Government to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The first phase of hearings will look at the health and social care impacts of the pandemic while later phases will look at education and young people, business and financial and welfare support.
Inquiry hears resident was "physically retrained" from hugging daughter
Ms Galbraith told the inquiry residents in care homes suffered an "unnecessarily disproportionate" impact on their lives which left them feeling "isolated, unheard and discriminated against".
The lawyer relayed a story where a member of CHRS sat two metres away from her mother and "watched as she was physically restrained" from walking towards her for a cuddle during restrictions in care homes as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions which meant care home residents were not able to touch loved ones while they visited.
Ms Galbraith said: "A carer was able to sit beside her and hold her hand, but not her daughter. What is that, if not discrimination?
"Why were carers considered less of a risk to health than parents or children?
"Their mental state may have been such that all they knew was being suddenly left with no visits, no touch, not even allowed to see others in the home."
"Like an exhibit at a reptile museum or a prisoner"
She compared care home residents' experience of restrictions where they may have seen relatives only through a window to being "an exhibit".
She said: "Perhaps they would be paraded out behind glass like an exhibit at a reptile museum or a prisoner."
David Di Paola, a solicitor representing CrossReach, a social care organisation operated by the Church of Scotland, told the inquiry in his opening statement how the sector had already been underfunded as a result of "years of underinvestment".
He criticised the Scottish Government's approach to implementing guidelines and rules.
Mr Di Paola said sector representatives had to intervene to stop rules late on a Friday from coming into place by the following Monday.
He said: "It took a significant effort to implement guidance which came thick and fast, was often unclear and sometimes unhelpful and came with short implementation windows."
The organisation also had issues with sourcing personal protective equipment (PPE) due to the unprecedented demand for it.
Mr Di Paola said some companies were charging seven times more than they generally would.
CrossReach also had incidents when children in their care were prevented from seeing members of their families.
The organisation also suffered "significant financial pressures" such as income shortfalls, a rise in insurance premiums and spending on agency staff.
Later, speaking on behalf of Promoting a More Inclusive Society Scotland, Ms Galbraith said that some families became so worried they considered suicide pacts.
Speaking on behalf of Scottish ministers, Geoffrey Mitchell KC said questions had arisen about whether the suffering was "too great".
Scottish Government "too well aware" of loss and suffering
He said: "The Scottish Government is well placed to explain the strategic decisions made during that time.
"The Scottish Government is too well aware of the loss and suffering experienced in that (health and social care) sector, and in Scotland as a whole.
"On behalf of the Scottish Government, I would like to recognise that loss.
"This pain, suffering, sacrifice and endurance is recognised, understood and acknowledged by the Scottish Government.
"The Scottish Government understand that legitimate questions arise as to whether the suffering needed to be so great."
Lord Brailsford said: "I wish to begin by reiterating my sincere condolences and those of the inquiry team to those who lost loved ones to Covid-19 and our sympathy to the many people who have been and continue to be affected by the pandemic."
The inquiry, before Lord Brailsford, continues.