Coronavirus in Scotland: Care home residents die in outbreak at third HC-One facility

A number of residents have died in a coronavirus outbreak at a third care home operated by HC-One, the firm has said.

The company told the PA news agency that 20 residents at Hatton Lea Care Home in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, have tested positive for the virus.

HC-One said due to privacy reasons it is unable to confirm how many residents have died from suspected or confirmed Covid-19.

It added the outbreak is confined to one of the five separate buildings at the home, where 11 members of staff have also tested positive and are all self-isolating.

A spokeswoman for the home said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with all families who have lost a loved one from coronavirus and we are doing our utmost to support them during this difficult time.

“Our senior team are supporting local colleagues so that we can help as many residents as possible to return to good health and we are working closely with Public Health to respond to the outbreak and facilitate testing at the home which is continuing.

“The home continues to be well supplied with the medical equipment and PPE needed to protect residents and colleagues.

“The coronavirus outbreak at the home is currently contained to one of the five separate buildings at Hatton Lea – we are taking all necessary precautions to minimise the risk of transmission to other colleagues and residents.”

She added: “We are in regular contact with the next of kin of our residents, and we are grateful for their ongoing support and understanding.

“We are also proud of our colleagues and how they have shown huge dedication and commitment to our residents.”

It is understood that the outbreak began on October 15 and by five days later 18 of the 29 residents in the unit had tested positive.

Several residents were subsequently admitted to hospital.

It comes after an inspection was held at HC-One’s Redmill Care Home in East Whitburn, West Lothian, after the deaths of 15 people in another outbreak.

Solicitors representing the families of residents who died at Home Farm Care Home in Skye, formerly run by HC-One, have urged the company to be more transparent in its handling of outbreaks.

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