Redmill Care Home: One more Covid death at West Lothian facility

Another patient at a care home in West Lothian has died with Covid-19, it has been announced.
Picture: Lisa Ferguson.Picture: Lisa Ferguson.
Picture: Lisa Ferguson.

The total number of Covid deaths at Redmill Care Home now stands at 15.

So far 33 residents have tested positive over the course of the outbreak, which was declared on October 6.

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Just one of the patients is still in their 14-day isolation period, care home operator HC-One confirmed.

There are currently eight staff members who have either tested positive or are self-isolating.

"We can confirm that 15 residents have passed away from suspected or confirmed coronavirus,” said a spokesperson for HC-One.

They added: "33 Residents have tested positive across the course of the outbreak, however, only one of these residents is still within their 14 day isolation, all others have passed that period. There are currently eight staff who are either positive or self-isolating.”

A spokesperson for Redmill Care 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.

“Supporting our residents is at the heart of what we do and our Colleagues are doing everything they can to care for Residents at Redmill in what are hugely difficult circumstances. We have a comprehensive coronavirus contingency plan in place and we are working closely with NHS Lothian and Public Health to ensure we are doing all we can to respond to and overcome this outbreak.

When asked about Redmill Care Home at parliament Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: "The thoughts of the government are with the residents and staff and the families with loved ones at Redmill at this time and our condolences go to those families who have sadly lost relatives.

"Dedicated daily support is being provided to the home by NHS Lothian and the health and social care partnership. This includes the provision of support in the form of staffing and support with infection prevention and control measures."

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She said there were a “number of issued that need to be addressed” at the home, including communication with residents and their families.

"A health protection team are in the home twice a week to test residents and staff, but it does feel to me as in other areas that communication with residents and their families in particularly and indeed with staff could be considerably improved,” she said.

"I am very happy to take that on and see whether or not we can ensure there is greater transparency in the information and the updates available to those individuals in particular, but also of course to the local members representing individuals in those care homes."

When asked previously about communication regarding the Covid-19 outbreak, a spokesperson for HC-One said: “We have engaged openly and regularly with the Care Inspectorate, NHS, Local Authorities, local politicians and families connected to all our homes throughout the past seven months of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We also know how detailed and robust our current Covid-19 protection plans are, and how tirelessly colleagues at every level of the organisation are working to protect our homes and our residents during this pandemic.”

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