Scottish COVID-19 inquiry|Closing Statements|Health and Social Care Impact Hearings|28 June 2024 (morning session)

Care home Relatives Scotland Group on the denial of human rights for residents who suffered 'the most extreme punishment' due to prolonged isolation policies.

Introduction

Harrowing testimony from Simon Crabb (advocate) on behalf of Care Home Relatives Scotland Group. .

MULTIPLE breaches of human rights now CONFIRMED!

Testimony highlights

Full video will be at the end of the article.

• The truly shocking harms of lockdown policies laid bare, particularly on care home residents with Dementia who then died the most ‘involving COVID-19.’

‘‘The restrictions imposed on them reduced their quality of life and their dignity of life.’’

The denial of contact was described as…

'‘A MOST EXTREME FORM OF PUNISHMENT. It had a DEVASTATING effect.'‘

Residents asked '‘were they in PRISON?'‘

‘‘Frequently families felt like troublemakers or a nuisance if they challenged or sought to question decisions…families had to learn to be compliant.’’

‘‘Care home relatives were discriminated against particularly towards the end of 2020 and 2021..there was NO JUSTIFICATION for continuing restrictions in care homes.’’

Dr.Donald Macaskill (CEO of Scottish Care) said :

‘‘Such extended periods of isolation are unacceptable, disproportionate, unnecessary and HUGELY damaging.’’

Simon Crabb continues….

‘‘The fact that Public Health Scotland produced COVID guidance that amalgamated care homes with prisons demonstrates clearly such a lack of understanding.’’

‘‘The evidence of interference with human rights is both compelling and overwhelming.’’

‘‘The pandemic showed people didn’t have human rights.’’

Further details in the statement:

‘Both she and Margaret Kilpatrick's mother felt that their situation was worse than it had been in World War II.’

‘Alison Walker spoke of her mother being physically pulled away from her in the garden — using the analogy of her being treated like an animal in a zoo.’

‘The Inquiry is asked to acknowledge the number of residents that will have died alone, without any visits — or only receiving one at the very last stage, when they may have been unaware: around 16,000 in the first 12 months of the pandemic.’

‘The restrictions faced by care home residents, in particular the lack of meaningful contact with loved ones, caused significant mental and physical distress, and is likely to have contributed in a number of cases to cognitive and emotional decline..

…and even death.’

‘The Inquiry also heard evidence that care home residents received inadequate medical care, ranging from GP services to more serious therapies and treatments, and were even refused admission to hospital.’

‘The evidence demonstrated that the use of masks caused distress, confusion and considerable difficulties with communication.’

‘The evidence demonstrated a widespread disregard for powers of attorney (POA) or guardianship orders.’

‘Morven Palmer had guardianship for her daughter…her request that her daughter's care home didn't test her without consent was ignored.’

Full video:

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End

Links:

Full statement- https://www.covid19inquiry.scot/sites/default/files/ev-documents/sci-clsstn-000011.pdf

Appendix I to the closing statement on behalf of Care Home Residents Scotland (CHRS) titled Proposals for further investigations-

https://www.covid19inquiry.scot/sites/default/files/ev-documents/sci-clsstn-000010.pdf