Scottish COVID-19 inquiry|Impact hearing|Health and social care|10 November 2023
Four witnesses testify. Lucy Challoner, Alina Duncan, anonymous and Tracey McMillan all representing Care Home Relatives Scotland Group.
Introduction
1.Lucy Challoner
The opening testimony was from Lucy Challoner who explains in disturbing detail why her gran would ‘‘cry and scream’’ during the lockdown and the confusion around new visiting rules which were segregated outdoor garden visits for months. Bizarrely, garden visits were not allowed during periods her gran was in isolation due to ‘COVID’.
‘‘That must have been extremely confusing for my grandma because she’s been in hospital..then she’s moved to a new environment with different people, people she’s not met before and you’re not allowed to see your family for 2 weeks..that must have been extremely distressing for my grandma.’’
‘At first it was garden visits which were ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS.’’
‘‘When i visited there was like a gate in place, which sort of reminded me of a prison.’’
Lockdown harms
Lucy further explains the harrowing nature of the visiting restrictions.
‘‘The whole thing was just really distressing and i left so many of those visits crying in tears thinking what have i done to my grandma.’’
‘‘I also had garden visits where both me and gran would be behind gates..at the end of visits gran would cry, it was traumatic she would scream…it was bad’’
Lucy goes on to explain why her gran would cry and scream. Physical contact was strictly forbidden.
‘‘Usually (Pre COVID) when youstrictly would go and visit you’d hear about her life stories, take your time…but you (are now) out in a freezing cold garden with a gate there..you could barely communicate or hear each other.’’
‘‘The way the visits were set up i think caused alot of distress for the both of us…you weren’t even allowed to hug.’'
‘‘Any gifts brought in had to be disinfected and left for 72 hours’’
Reduced healthcare support-health consequences evident
‘‘There was a MASSIVE decline in her mobility (when she went into the care home) she went from being able to walk around to be in more in her chair and struggling to move.’’
Misuse DNR
Despite Lucy having power of attorney over her gran a DNR was put in place without her knowledge.
‘‘I don’t know when that was put in place..no discussion took place with myself the only reason i found out about that was i found it ripped up in her house.’’
Final comments
Lucy states there should be more accountability for the decisions being made.
‘‘I felt there wasn’t accountabiltiy when things were challenged.’’
‘‘It was very confusing to know who was making the decisions that was having a really negative impact on your family members.’’
2nd witness Alina Duncan
Introduction
The second witness for CHRS was Alina Duncan (an experienced carer herself). In 2008, at the age of 55 her husband Jim was diagnosed with a rare form of dementia, Posterior Cortical Atrophy. It impacted his eyesight and communication skills. Jim was registered blind, unable to communicate or understand what was going on due to his condition. He eventually was placed into a care home. Jim sadly passed away not of COVID, but his illness (Dementia) 15th August 2022. He was administered morphine and midazolam shortly before his passing.
Testimony Highlights
Alina explains in her statement and at inquiry about her husbands deterioration in lockdown and the traumatic effects of not being unable to spend time with her husband and how ‘‘nobody listened’’ in government or public health to her concerns. She also explains the neglect in the care home and how Jim was being starved. She explains isolation policies were not proportionate and likely resulted in the deaths of several residents within her husbands home.
Isolation policies led to deaths
Instructions from the local council meant care home residents were not allowed out of their rooms and not even allowed to go into the large lounge area. Ms.Duncan appealed this and got the decision overturned for her husband. Other reisdents were not so fortunate.
‘‘Once visiting did resume i asked where a few of the residents were, the ones that generally walked about (in the home) ALOT and i was told…
…they got put to their bed and they died..NOT of COVID but of something else.’’
Visits
‘‘The care home made me feel like a criminal for wanting to see Jim.’’
Lockdown posture decline
Jim’s home had five managers during the ‘pandemic.’ Ms.Duncan raised concerns about her husbands mobility issues.
‘‘I tried speaking to this area manager but she just wasn’t listening…Jim was leaning out the wheelchair screaming and balling and shouting.’’
‘My husband is about to fall out this wheelchair because of what you’ve done to him.’’
Her reply was- ‘‘I better get off the phone then.’’
GP visits
‘‘It was terrible (trying to get a GP visit)…i was fortunate (as GP was a neighbour) but i really don’t think there was GPs going into the care home much at all.’’
Isolation
Despite wearing FULL PPE and with a negative COVID test Ms.Duncan was still not allowed by the care home to visit her husband in his room.
‘‘I don't feel that the isolation that came about because of the restrictions was appropriate or proportionate. I wouldn't have allowed it.’’
Missing meals and early lockdown decline
‘‘I could see he was getting thinner..his posture as not good…i could tell his whole look, he was sleeping more, eating less.’’
FOUR lockdowns
Morphine and Midazolam
LOCKDOWN deaths
‘‘I think, overall, the care home lost about 20 residents to Covid. I think a member of staff brought it in. A lot died in the first lockdown before the vaccination was available. Jim never got Covid, but I don't know how.’’ - paragraph 71 statement
Concluding remarks:
‘‘The Scottish Government should have considered QUALITY of life NOT quantity. Management used government legislation and public health rules to hide behind and keep relatives out many times i quoted the human rights act however i was always told other resident’s had a right to be kept safe.’’
…NOBODY LISTENED.’’
‘‘I want to be included in the Inquiry as care home residents have been treated worst of all by the Scottish Government and the managers of the homes.’’
10 Nov-afternoon session
1.Anonymous witness statement HSC0049
Video highlights at end.
Father was diagnosed with Dementia around 2009. As the dementia progressed in 2019 her father was placed into a care home. Sadly passed away on 6 September 2021, cause of death noted as COVID.
Before lockdown
Lockdown 2020
‘Everything was fine unti l March 2020 when the management at Janet Brougham House Care Home stated they were no longer able to meet my dad's needs.’
Locked out-literally!
‘‘On 15 March 2020, Kingsway care home was locked down and I was unable to see or speak with my dad.’’
‘‘I was informed that a decision had been taken to lock the facility down. The door was locked in front of me. I could hear my dad at the other side of the door, and I did not get to see him…’’
‘‘That was heartbreaking and caused me a lot of distress.’’
Impacts
‘‘The impact of the restrictions on me and my family was that we felt like dad was being imprisoned.’’
‘‘Prior to lockdown and he had abusy social life which was a l taken away and his life changed dramatically overnight.’’
NO COVID and still in isolation
‘‘When my dad returned from hospital he had to be isolated again even though he had been tested in the hospital for COVID and the test was negative. This meant he was locked in his room again for another two weeks.’’
Lockdown imprisonment
‘‘Prior to lockdown my dad was visited by many friends and family. He would also regularly be seen by opticians, podiatrists, dentists and have diabetic screenings. These all stopped during the pandemic.’’
‘‘When window visits were introduced, I had to phone up and book the visit. Initially the windows were not open during visits. There was no physical contact al lowed so visits were through the glass.’’
‘‘When my dad saw me, he was trying to open the window to get out of the building..
…He wanted to come out and see me and my family.’’
Medication effects/Health decline
‘‘When I received visits I noted a change in dad's health. He was more heavily medicated…
…and his contacts and activities had stopped.’’
Perpetual lockdowns
‘‘I felt that the rules were over the top and that the restrictions were too great. The harm from what was being done outweighed the risks.’’
‘‘There was not enough consideration for the impact of the restrictions on families. Everyone was so focused on keeping residents alive at all costs that…
..they did not consider the damage of the lack of contact. ‘‘
‘‘Visits were as important as medicine.’’
Highlights
2.Tracey McMillan
Introduction
Ms.McMillan is a qualified social worker of 29 years. She speaks about her mother who sadly died on 25 April 2021, 73 years of age. After having a sore toe which resulted in hospitilisation and a below the knee amputation she was placed in a care home. Her eye sight was also becoming an issue.
Lockdown
On May 2020 her mother tested ‘positive for COVID’. But recovered.
Distressing restrictions
New care home/Lockdown deterioration
Tracey managed to move her mother to a new care home primarilly due to the deterioration in her mental health in her current placement.
‘‘She was a very different person. She was this depleted shell.’’
‘I was physically shocked when i saw my mum at the July visit….she had checked out..i couldn’t believe how frail she was….her face had caved in…her clothes were hanging off her.’’
Diabetes
Tracey was worried about her mothers blood sugar in the home and that she was not eating. She ended up ill due to the stress.
‘‘She had lost so much weight; she was like bone.’’
Pressure sores
Her mother was spending so much time on bed she developed painful pressure sores and continuing to remain very fragile.
‘‘By Christmas 2020…my mum just looks like a ghost. She's just so frail by then.’’
Low mood
Tracey’s mum was being prescribed evermore anti-depressants to cope with the low mood during lockdown.
Insulin overdose
Tracey’s mother was almost killed from an isulin overdose.
Care plan review/3 stone weight loss
End of life
After a problematic transfer to hospital her mum died on Sunday 25 April 2021 of hypoglycaemia and urinary sepsis. Tracey states quite cleary what she believes was responsible for her mothers decline and subsequent passing.
True cause of death
No managment of:
Diabetes
Mental health
and
Loss of contact with family
'What had hastened mum's death was really her treatment and the loss of contact with her family'
‘‘The closing down of those connections to family and community just killed my mum. That was such a basic need that my mum had. Not having access to those things’’’
…that's really what should have been put on her death certificate..
…because that was really what killed her.’
No human rights
‘‘It felt as if she was having to live in a regime where she didn't have any control.’’
End
Links:
Full video-Scottish COVID-19 inquiry Youtube-Impact hearing | Health and social care | 10 November 2023 (morning session)
Lucy Challoner statement-https://www.covid19inquiry.scot/sites/default/files/ev-documents/sci-wt0358-000001.pdf
Alina Duncan statement- https://www.covid19inquiry.scot/sites/default/files/ev-documents/sci-wt0378-000002.pdf
Anonymous witness HCS0049 statement- https://www.covid19inquiry.scot/sites/default/files/ev-documents/sci-wt0364-000001.pdf
Tracey McMillan statement- https://www.covid19inquiry.scot/sites/default/files/ev-documents/sci-wt0496-000001.pdf (10 November 2023 afternoon session)
https://news.stv.tv/scotland/woman-made-to-feel-like-nuisance-by-care-home-staff-scottish-covid-19-inquiry-hears