Care homes fiasco isn't just a failure.. it's also a cover-up

Jeane Freeman has been accused of a cover-up after finally admitting failings over the transfer of Covid-19 patients from hospitals into care homes.

- John Ferguson

In a BBC interview, the Health Secretary said the Scottish Government “didn’t take the right precautions” and that it was “a mistake”.

The Sunday Mail revealed the practice last April during deadly Covid outbreaks in care homes.

Two days after our story, Freeman – who will retire from her £112,000-a-year job in May with a £44,347 golden goodbye – announced changes to the rules including two negative test results for hospital discharges.

But the guidance was updated again in October and untested patients continued to be allowed into sites. Almost a third of Scotland’s 10,000 confirmed or suspected Covid-19 deaths have occurred in care homes.

Gary Smith, Scots secretary of the GMB Union, which represents care home workers, reacted angrily to the outgoing MSP’s admission.

He said: “This cements the need for a full public inquiry into Covid-19 and care home deaths.