'Disgusted' - Scottish Health Secretary's letter uses wrong name for Midlothian pensioner 'needlessly' moved from hospital to nursing home where he picked up Covid-19 and died

A Midlothian family is "disgusted" with a letter from Scotland's Health Secretary which used the wrong name for their father - after concerns were raised about the decision to move him from a hospital to a nursing home where he picked up Covid-19 and died.

Jeane Freeman's letter incorrectly refers to Rodger Laing as "Robert" in response to a request from Lothian MSP Miles Briggs (Scottish Conservative) for the case to be looked into after the Evening News highlighted the story in June.

His son, Rodney Laing, also feels Ms Freeman's official response overlooks the family's main concern that their father should not have been moved to a care home in early May when the virus was rife in care homes in Scotland.

Mr Laing was in Drummond Grange, Lasswade, for just three weeks before his death on May 27th. His family claim he was transferred there from Midlothian Community Hospital against their will, amid fears over virus exposure, and that his son Rodney's Power of Attorney was overruled by social workers who said he was "bed blocking" - despite him being "perfectly healthy and happy" where he was.

Rodger Laing died from Covid-19 after being moved to Drummond Grange nursing home in early May.

A Scottish Government spokesperson has apologised for using the wrong first name in the letter and has raised Mr Laing's case with Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership and asked them to speak directly to the family.

The 80-year-old, who had Alzheimer's disease as well as Schizophrenia and Psychosis, died from the virus the day before care inspectors found "significant concerns" with the use and supply of PPE and infection prevention and control practice at the nursing home.

The family do not know how he contracted the virus but they were concerned when they received pictures of him sitting in a lounge kissing a therapy doll and hoovering a carpet, when they felt he should have been isolated.

The letter to Mr Briggs from Ms Freeman regarding the case, said: "I write following your question during First Minister's questions on 17 June in which you referred to your constituent, Mr Robert Laing, who was referred from a hospital to a care home."

Part of the official letter from Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to Miles Briggs MSP

The letter also said that her officials contacted Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership and found that Rodney Laing had fully supported the process to discharge his father from the hospital in December 2019, as he was declared fit and healthy.

‘Generic Letter’

But Mr Laing stressed that although the family agreed to his father's discharge, circumstances changed when his mother, Freda Laing, died that month due to heart failure and COPD - and then the pandemic took hold in care homes a few months later.

He added: "No one should have been moved to a care home during that time, it was at a time the pandemic was at its worst in Scotland."

He told the Evening News he felt "disgusted" that an official government letter had named his father incorrectly, adding: "I would assume more attention to detail and more professionalism would have been taken when issuing a letter regarding someone who has passed away. His name is Rodger not Robert.

"It just feels like a generic letter that was lying on someone's desk and someone's been asked to fill in the blanks and hopefully it will all go away."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We deeply regret any distress caused to the family of Mr Laing from our error and we apologise for it. We fully understand this is a hugely difficult time for the family and our deepest sympathies are with all those who have lost loved ones as a result of this pandemic.

“The Scottish Government has raised Mr Laing’s case with Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership and we have asked that they engage directly with his family to hear their concerns."

As well as raising concerns with the local authority, there are ways for families to escalate their concerns with both the Care Inspectorate and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO).

A report concerning Mr Laing's death has also been sent to the Crown Office as part of a nationwide review into coronavirus related deaths in Scotland's care homes.

Covid-19 is listed as the cause of death on Mr Laing's death certificate, which also states the approximate onset of the virus was just three days before.

Care home provider Barchester Healthcare said previously they do not accept the Care Inspectorate findings at Drummond Grange from May 28th and have raised concerns about the care regulator's operation during the pandemic and will be seeking an investigation.