Rachael Hamilton MSP has called on the Scottish Government to offer a Covid-19 test to all care home residents in the Borders and Scotland.
It comes after the Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said today that all workers in care facilities could all be tested, even if they were not displaying symptoms.
However, she stopped short of offering the same assistance to care home residents – hundreds of whom are dying from Covid-19 each week – and carers working in community settings.
Earlier today, the Borders MSP joined Scottish Conservative leader, Jackson Carlaw MSP in calling on the SNP Government to utilise more testing capacity to reach the estimated 90,000 people living and working in care homes.
Mrs Hamilton believes that care home residents should have the option of a test, and their families deserve the reassurance that care homes are taking the necessary precautions.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
“The Health Secretary's plan falls well short of the comprehensive action needed to protect care workers and care home residents.
“What we need is a commitment that, in addition to care home staff, all residents and community care workers will also be included in a repeat testing policy.
“As we have seen, the challenges facing the care sector and the tragic loss of life in many care homes is unprecedented, we need a 100% testing policy covering all staff and residents.
“Many people will be wondering how many lives in our care homes could have been saved if a more comprehensive testing regime had been put in place several weeks ago.
“I join calls with members of my party in demanding that full test coverage is implemented in all care homes, right across Scotland”.
