‘Reckless’ - West Lothian woman discharged from hospital to care home the day after positive Covid test as ‘astonished’ family fear for other residents’ safety

A West Lothian woman was discharged from hospital into a care home the day after testing positive for Covid-19, sparking fears from her family that the virus could spread there and put lives at risk.

The woman, who has Alzheimer’s and is in her 70s, was taken from Livingston Care Home to St John’s Hospital last Tuesday with suspected Covid symptoms - including a high temperature and breathing difficulties - and a positive test was returned the next day.

But a close family member claims they were told by a nurse at the hospital that, as their relative was recovering well, they would be moved back to the care home on Thursday as this is where she likely caught the virus and there had already been some cases there.

The family member told the Edinburgh Evening News they were left “astonished” by what they described as an “unacceptable” decision. They said: “We were lost for words. I just struggle to understand the logic in sending someone who is Covid positive back into a care home when we have already had a high number of care home deaths.

The woman was discharged from St John's Hospital into a care home the day after testing positive for Covid-19.

“I would have liked to imagine there would’ve been a plan put in place after nine months for the elderly. Unfortunately it still feels like there is little care for our most vulnerable and that is very upsetting.

“Maybe you can send people home if they live at home, but to a care home is reckless and could be devastating. It could be a better setting for her and they (carers) know what they are doing with her but there are other people in there and other families affected and if someone else catches it, it can spread like wildfire. Families are already worried enough, and staff are at risk as well.”

Details of the case emerged amid calls from opposition parties to introduce a complete ban on discharging patients to care homes without two negative tests.

The policy of hospital Covid patients having two negative tests prior to discharge to a care home was brought in back in April.

But during Monday’s Covid briefing, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon clarified that a person could be moved without having a test only in “exceptional” circumstances.

Ms Sturgeon suggested this could be if the person finds doing a test highly distressing or can not give consent, or if they are on end of life care and a decision is made for them to move back into the care home.

But the woman’s family insists she does not meet any of this criteria and they are seeking more answers around the decision-making process.

The family also have more general concerns about care home staff potentially avoiding Covid tests and the use of PPE in care homes, and they feel the hospital would have been a better place for her to self-isolate for 14 days.

Deaths in care homes have accounted for 42 percent of Covid-related deaths in Scotland, according to the Scottish Government website.

‘Appalling’ treatment

Lothian MSP Neil Findlay (Scottiah Labour), who has highlighted concerns about the case in Parliament, said: “When I raised this case at FMQs and asked if we were back to discharging Covid positive patients to care homes Nicola Sturgeon was emphatic saying and I quote ‘With the greatest respect, I do not accept that. There is no such policy and there will not be one.’ This case and many others show this is happening, against the Government’s own guidance, putting residents and staff at risk.

“This is more evidence of the appalling way that older people have been treated during the last nine months.”

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the guidance has been clear for hospital Covid discharges for several months and that exceptional circumstances are based on “clinical judgement.” She said it is right that doctors, based on their knowledge of the patient and experience, are able to exercise that judgement.

The woman’s family said they were also concerned that their relative had been moved between three different wards in the time she was in the hospital last week.

Jacquie Campbell, chief officer of Acute Services, NHS Lothian, said: “Our standard process for discharging patients back into care homes requires the patient to test negative for Covid-19 twice prior to discharge.

“However, when a patient does not require acute hospital care, there are circumstances in which it can be better for a patient to return to the familiarity of their care home. In cases such as these, a discharge to a care home would only take place after consultation with our Infection Prevention and Control team and the care home to ensure they are confident and content to continue to care for the returning resident safely.

“The needs and wellbeing of our patients are at the centre of this decision making and it is only ever made in line with strict infection control policies.”

A Livingston Care Home spokesperson said they are working closely with Health Protection Scotland and NHS Lothian to monitor the situation and will continue to “rigorously adhere” to the guidelines regarding PPE and infection control - and weekly staff testing is in place.

The spokesperson said: “We would like to thank our frontline care staff for their exceptional efforts during this pandemic.”

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