Demand for care home public inquiry escalates as the independence of watchdog comes under scrutiny

Relatives of care home residents killed by coronavirus insist a public inquiry is the only way to uncover the truth after it emerged the agency behind a government report into the transfer of hospital patients has a duty to protect the reputation of ministers.

Former health secretary Jeane Freeman commissioned the Public Health Scotland (PHS) report after an investigation by The Post found evidence that dozens of Covid-19 positive hospital patients were moved to care homes during the first wave.

It emerged last week that PHS has to score research on the likelihood that it will cause sustained or widespread criticism of the Scottish Government. Opposition politicians said this proves a conflict of interest and claimed the PHS reports were compromised.

Alan Wightman of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, who speaks for hundreds of relatives of those who died in care homes, including his mum, Helen, who passed away in a Fife home, said: “If the suggestion here is one of government interference in the content or conclusions of the report then that is worrying. I think the correct way to uncover the truth or otherwise of that allegation is to address it through a statutory public inquiry.”

Brian Sloan, Age Scotland chief executive, said: “Even the faintest doubt that something of this nature might not be a full and frank account should be avoided. Organisational and reputational interests must not get in the way.”

The Scottish Parliament voted last year for an immediate judge-led inquiry, but six months on the relatives of more than 10,000 people who died of the virus – including in care homes – are still waiting.

The SNP’s manifesto gave a commitment to a probe. However, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly insisted she wants to wait for details of a UK-wide inquiry, which won’t begin until 2022.

Dr Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, which represents the interests of private care homes in Scotland, said: “If we wait until spring 2022, it will be two years plus since the events of the first wave. Memories weaken and diminish; individual staff are moving on and retiring and, sadly, residents will inevitably die.”

Naomi McAuliffe, Amnesty International’s Scotland Programme Director, commented: “This is not only a matter of public trust, there is an obligation to thousands of families who have lost loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The Scottish Government said: “We will continue to reflect on the handling of the pandemic and a full independent public inquiry will consider all aspects of that, including the impact on care homes and their residents.”