Care home deaths will form a key part of Scotland’s public inquiry into the handling of the Covid pandemic, the Scottish government has said.
The inquiry will begin by the end of the year with draft plans published by the Scottish government saying it will “scrutinise decisions taken in the course of this pandemic, and learn lessons for future pandemics”.
Particular consideration will be given to "four harms" of the pandemic, including direct health impacts of Covid-19 such as cases and deaths in care homes; other non-Covid health impacts; societal impacts, including education; and economic impacts.
Almost 10,500 deaths have been registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate since the pandemic began – around a third have occurred in care homes.
The Scottish government has previously admitted that it failed to take the "right precautions" when discharging patients from hospitals into care homes during the first wave of the Covid pandemic.
More than 1,300 elderly people were sent to care homes before a robust testing regime was in place.
"The inquiry will look at all matters related to the handling of the pandemic that are within our devolved competence. This will include of course the situation in our care homes,” said First Minister Nicola Sturgeon while announcing the inquiry.
The Scottish government will "liaise closely" with the UK government and the other devolved administrations on the likely terms of a UK-wide inquiry to "avoid duplication and overlap", she added.
