Scottish COVID inquiry|Closing Statement: Independent Care Homes Scotland
Final statement from ''ICHS'' group outline the devastating impact of lockdown restrictions.
NB: The ICHS group were scheduled to appear to give oral testimony but this did not happen for reasons as yet unexplained.
Introduction
The Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry has published the list of closing statements to be delivered by video testimony on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 June, marking the end of it’s health and social care impact hearings. The written statements were released today. Below is a video highlights reel for ICHS.
ICHS
Independent Care Homes Scotland ‘‘ICHS’’ is a distinct group comprising 12 independent care home operators within Scotland and between them, employ almost 14,000 staff across 166 care homes (15% of all care homes in Scotland). ICHS is a conglomerate group set up to form one distinct voice for the independent care home sector.
‘‘With hindsight…the adverse effect (of lockdown) on residents’ physical and mental well-being outweighed the risk posed by COVID-19.’’
‘‘ICHS staff were placed in a policing role which was completely unnatural for them.’’
‘‘Testing in care homes did not happen at all until June 2020.’’
There have been no media reports of this crucial evidence.
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End
Simply heartbreaking - not sure if this is the right phrase but thank you
It would very surprising if imposing these draconian restrictions and regulations did not result in significant numbers of totally unrelated and preventable deaths. What is quite clear is that the authorities panicked and fell over themselves to make life as difficult as possible for the front line staff involved, mainly to cover their own backs, with total disregard to realities on the ground.