THE true scale of the impact of Covid-19 on Dumbarton’s care homes has been laid bare for the first time.

New figures reveal that 46 people have died of Covid across three care homes in the area since the start of the pandemic.

Castle View Care Home, run by HC-One, was the worst affected, with 23 deaths – seven of which occurred between March 2021 and May 2022.

A further 11 were reported at West Dunbartonshire Council’s Crosslet House, as well as 12 at Balquhidder.

The numbers were disclosed to the area’s MSP, Jackie Baillie, by the Care Inspectorate.

Across Ms Baillie’s constituency there have been 60 Covid deaths in care homes – with a further 14 deaths reported in Helensburgh and Lomond.

A court ruling in England deemed the discharge of untested hospital patients to care homes at the height of the pandemic to have been unlawful – prompting Ms Baillie to call on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to “face up” to a similar discharge decision made by the Scottish Government.

A public inquiry into the Scottish Government’s handling of the pandemic was announced in December.

Last week Ms Baillie raised the issue with the First Minister and demanded that she face up to her Government’s potentially unlawful decision to discharge patients to care homes without testing during the pandemic.

This came after a court in England ruled similar action south of the border was unlawful.

The Scottish Government established a public inquiry into its handling of the pandemic on December 14, 2021.

Ms Baillie said: “It is really sad to hear that 60 residents in local care homes have died from Covid and that this total has increased by 15 in just over a year.

“This is heartbreaking for the families as each of these statistics represents someone who was loved and will be sorely missed.

“It is imperative that people realise that, although restrictions have been lifted, Covid still poses a threat particularly to those in vulnerable groups including the elderly.

“It was disappointing that, despite the landmark ruling in England, Nicola Sturgeon failed to admit her Government made potentially unlawful mistakes at the start of the pandemic which has cost lives.

“It is vital that a public inquiry which has been promised by the SNP Government focuses on lessons which can be learned from the pandemic – particularly where people have died and how these tragedies could be prevented if this situation arises again.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said analysis by Public Health Scotland, published in April, had found that care home size had been very strongly related to outbreaks of Covid – and insisted that despite the English court ruling, there was no clear statistical evidence linking such incidents to hospital discharges.

They added: “First and foremost our thoughts are with every single family which has lost a loved one during the course of the pandemic.

“Our priority throughout the pandemic has been to save lives and we have sought to take the best decisions, based on the best scientific and clinical evidence that we have had at any given time, to keep people living and working in our care homes as safe as possible.

“The purpose of the inquiry is to provide scrutiny and answers to the questions people have about the handling of the pandemic, and to learn lessons.

“In the published terms of reference for the public inquiry, the Government has included the issue of discharge to care homes.”

Beth Culshaw, chief officer of West Dunbartonshire HSCP, said: “Every death causes concern and sadness for families, carers and staff.

“West Dunbartonshire HSCP has adhered to Scottish Government guidance on Covid-19 throughout the pandemic and will co-operate fully with any inquiry in due course.

“Strict procedures have been in place since the onset of the pandemic and we continue to follow all Government and health guidance to safeguard and support both our residents and our employees, including observing social distancing, providing PPE, staff testing and training as well as providing wellbeing support.”