EX HEALTH SEC FREEMAN HAS 'NO REGRETS' OVER COVID LOCKDOWN

JEANE Freeman was last night accused of insulting Scotland after saying she had no regrets over lockdown, five years after Scots were told to stay at home to stop the spread of Covid.

- By Douglas Dickie

The former health secretary defended controversial policies in relation to care homes, but conceded the decision to close schools was something she thought "worth reconsidering".

The Scottish Tories said her "shameful attempt to defend the SNP's catastrophic handling of the pandemic is an insult to every Scottish family who lost a loved one".

She was talking on the fifth anniversary of Boris Johnson ordering the country to stay at home to try and bring the spread of the coronavirus under control.

In response, strict regulations were implemented by the Nicola Sturgeon-led Scottish Government with Scots told not to leave their homes more than once a day, even if they were staying outside to exercise.

Shops were told to close, schools were also shut and social distancing measures were put in place.

Ms Freeman, along with Ms Sturgeon, faced criticism for the policy of sending untested hospital patients into care homes at the height of the pandemic.

The practice, which was blamed for many Covid deaths in care homes, was not ended in Scotland until April 21, 2020, almost a week after the UK Government had scrapped the policy.

But appearing on BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, Ms Freeman said care homes were a "much safer place" for vulnerable Scots than "a hospital that is treating Covid patients".

She admitted some of the decisions she made caused "harm", such as reducing cancer screening services.

But asked if she had any regrets, she said: "I regret that people died, I regret the harm that was caused.