Two Covid-linked deaths in care homes, says Crown Office
by Peter Urpeth
Local Democracy Reporter
Data released by the Crown Office revealing how many residents of care homes in Scotland may have died from Coronavirus since between March 2020 and 8 April, shows that two deaths possibly linked to the virus occurred in care homes in the Western Isles.
The figures show that one resident at Taigh a’Chridhe Uile Naomh in Daliburgh and one at Bethesda Care Home in Stornoway sadly died in cases that may have been Covid-linked.
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Hide AdThe deaths account for a third of the 6 deaths in the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar area possibly associated with the virus in the period.
The figures published by the Crown Office – which with the Procurator Fiscal Service is Scotland’s ‘independent public prosecution service’ – were obtained by the BBC under Freedom of Information laws.
According to the broadcaster, the data provides ‘a breakdown of every presumed and confirmed Covid death in a care home’ in Scotland that has been reported to the Crown Office, and are part of a wider investigation across Scotland by the prosecutor ‘to determine if the deaths should be the subject of a fatal accident inquiry or prosecution’.
The Crown office data confirms that 3400 residents of care homes may have died as a result of the virus in Scotland. More than 10’000 deaths have been registered nationally, according to Scottish Government figures, ‘where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate’.
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Hide AdA spokesperson for NHS Western Isles, responding to an inquiry about the death at Bethesda Care Home said:
“This death fitted the case definition of a Covid death, in that the individual sadly passed away within 28 days of a positive Covid test. This does not necessary mean that the main cause of death was Covid-19. It would not be appropriate to comment further on individual cases.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, which operates the Taigh a’Chridhe Uile Naomh home, said that they would not be commenting on ‘any individual cases’.