Scottish COVID-19 inquiry|Impact hearing |Health and social care|14 November 2023(afternoon)

Harrowing testimony from Gillian Duncan and Cathie Russell from Care Home Relatives Scotland.

Introduction

The first witness is Ms.Gillian Duncan who testifies about the death of her parents (both Alzheimer’s sufferers) that occured during the pandemic. Gillian states she is employed as a part time Sales Assistant but was previously employed as an actress before COVID.

Pre COVID events

Gillian’s mum was hospitalised suffering from flu in December 2017. One week later her dad was also hospitalised also with flu. They were also suffering from delirium When they were due to leave hospital, social workers advised that they could not return home. Care homes packages were eventually arranged.

During the lockdown

The care home locked down earlier than most, on 13 March 2020, two weeks before the actual official lockdown. Sadly her father was admitted into hospital the day after the care home locked down after having a fall. Gillian’s dad returned to the care home after a couple of days in hospital. He was tested for Covid before he left the hospital and found to be negative.

On 17 April 2020 her mum was tested for Covid-19. On 20 April she tested positive. Eight days later, she died. Gillian’s dad tested positive two days later and survived.

Withdrawal of care/end of life

Just before lockdown Ms.Duncan called the GP to ask for advice and reassurance in the event of her parents contracting the virus.

‘‘There was no GPs going into the homes to assess this.’’

‘‘The GP told me that they would not be taken to hospital and would instead be treated within the care home.’’

Furtheremore potentially life saving oxygen would not be available or access to a fluid drip.

‘‘They would be given paracetamol to bring down a temperature and if things progressed, end of life medication would be prescribed and administered.’’

‘‘GP's were not going into the care home. I was shocked and frightened.’’

Public ‘Health’ Scotland made the decisions

Denial at end of life

Ms.Duncan was not allowed to be with her mum when she passed away.

‘‘When my Mum became a Covid patient…she was denied the hospital care..that others, who didn't live in care homes, were allowed.’’

Visits

Only one OUTSIDE visit allowed in a 6 week period, granted due to her mum’s passing. Even bringing the family dog for positive refreshment was forbbiden.

Paramedics refused to attend father

On 25 May 2020, Gillan’s dad developed a bladder problem. The nurse in the home phoned the hospital to advise that dad needed to be admitted to hospital immediately for a catheter to be administered. Initialy the paramedics refused to attend.

‘‘My sister was asked over the phone by the doctor in the hospital..

"do you want your dad to be treated?’’. She was horrified to be asked this

Prison visit

Gillian states: ‘‘There was a giant table between my dad and us at that visit. That was the first physical visit we had.’’

‘‘There was no privacy.’’

‘‘The visits actually added to dad's distress as he did not understand how we could not come inside and visit him properly.’’

‘‘It felt very much like a prison visit.’’

Lockdown deterioration

7 months into the lockdown Gillan’s father was becoming more lethargic. The GP when in attendance stood 2 metres away and remarkably diagnosed ‘Long COVID.’

‘‘The impact of these restrcitions was huge.’’

‘‘My dad was like a prisoner in the care home.’’

Isolation impacts

End of life medication

‘Your father sadly died on Christmas day and he was given end of life medication on that day.’’

‘Our dad doesn’t have COVID.’

Parents cause of death

2.Cathie Russell

Introduction

Today’s 2nd witness is Ms.Cathie Russell. Formerly a corporate communications manager for South Lanarkshire Council. She retired from this role in 2013 to look after her mother who was becoming more frail due to osteoporosis and suspected Parkinsons disease. Ms.Russell’s mother was a resident of Clarence Court care home Glasgow when she sadly passed away 20 July 2021 aged 89.

Before March 23rd 2020

Prior to the national lockdown Cathie’s mum (due to a fall at home) broke her back in two places and was hospitilised for 3 months. From that point she never regained her ability to walk and was placed in a care home. Her cognitive decline which was increasing now said to be caused by Dementia.

Care homes

In her statement at paragraph 52 Ms.Russell says:

‘Care homes are just big financial washing machines. I have learnt so much about them now and have grave concerns about our dependance on private care homes.’

Prior to lockdown

Her mother was recovering from her injuries and doing ‘quite well’ able to enjoy close contact with her family and partake in normal activities like Christmas.

Start of ‘the pandemic’ TV and radio broadcasts

About 2 weeks before the national lockdown on March 10th Ms.Russell thought it sensible to email the care home to tell them not to bring children and that anyone with fever symptoms should definetely not visit… (paragraph 63 of statement)

‘‘Due to the rising death toll in ITALY.’’

Ms.Russell also recalls..

‘‘Someone on the radio in CHINA.’’

..was speaking about their dad in a care home without relatives and how this level of totalitarian control would not be tolerated here in the liberal Western world. How wrong she was. Ms.Russell also goes on to speak about more news she heard from Spain where residents were abandoned and left to die.

National lockdown

For weeks the only visiting allowed was a CLOSED window visit.

Her mother asked if she was a prisoner.

‘I think when you look back on COVID…..

….the treatment of people in care homes will be the standout DISASTER.’

Pleading with officials-No visits for nearly one year

From April 2020 Ms.Russell contacted numerous public health officials including the Chief Medical Officer Dr.Gregor Smith and even her own MSP…but to no avail. No changes to policy were forthcoming.

‘‘Thousands of people never got the chance to reunite as their relatives died during the lockout.’’

‘It had been 3 months since i got to spend time with my mum…

…THERE HAD NEVER BEEN A COVID CASE.’

‘It is an act of outright cruelty to deny her the company of her children at this time of her life….i believe what you are doing is a major breach of our right to family life.’

Care home residents were committing suicide due to lockdown isolation.

Even with vaccinations rolling lockdowns continued to isolate residents for periods of upto 45 days. Even double vaccinated family members in full PPE were STILL denied entry.

End of life

Just five months later, June 2021, her mother’s health started to fail and she was placed on a palliative care pathway.

Isolation is defined by the United Nations as torture

No healthcare services for 12+ months-No confidence in government?

Indoor visiting

When indoor visits were permitted (even with a negative COVID test and being fully vaccinated) the response from carers was less than compassionate.

‘Get your hands off her.’

Closing remarks

‘Their wellbeing has been compromised in the name of care.’

Hopes for the inquiry

‘Public health doctors placed too much emphasis on COVID and ignored the dreadful impact the draconian rules were having on many people particularly care home residents.’

End

Links:

Full statement Gillian Duncan- https://www.covid19inquiry.scot/sites/default/files/ev-documents/sci-wt0372-000001.pdf

Full statement Cathie Russell- https://www.covid19inquiry.scot/sites/default/files/ev-documents/sci-wt0366-000001.pdf

Full video: YouTube-Impact hearing | Health and social care | 14 November 2023 (afternoon session)

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-elderly-people-found-dead-abandoned-care-homes-124400297.html