Latest figures show one in three of the 1,616 covid-19 deaths in Scotland happened in residential care.

Most virus deaths, 56%, have taken place in hospitals, but the proportion of care home deaths has climbed from a quarter last week to a third this week.

One in ten deaths are recorded are being at home or other community settings.

National Records of Scotland (NRS), which compiles the weekly figures, says virus fatalities now account for a third of all the deaths in Scotland taking place each week, a proportion that has steadily increased since the start of the crisis.

Ten days ago representative body Scottish Care reported as many as half of Scotland’s care homes could already have a resident with coronavirus.

Nearly three quarters of all the people who have died from coronavirus were over 75, while men make up over half of those who have died.

The statistics also suggested that deaths from other causes – such as cancer and dementia – are happening at a higher level than usual.

A recent 72% fall in urgent referrals for suspected cancer prompted a plea from Scotland’s interim chief medical officer for people to still seek help during the pandemic.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services at NRS, said: “Every death from this virus is a tragedy. These statistics, alongside the other important evidence being made available by the Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotland, are valuable to the understanding of the progress and impact of the covid-19 virus across Scotland.

“Our aim is to ensure that our statistical publication provides information that is as useful as possible and adds value to the understanding of how the virus is spreading throughout the country. We will continue to review and develop these statistics.”

The figures reported each day by the Scottish Government at the First Minister’s press briefings differ to the NRS statistics as they only include deaths that have occurred after a positive test result for covid-19 and not deaths where the virus is presumed to have been the cause or a significant contributor.

Age Scotland has said care home residents must not be “written off” and called for a redoubling of efforts to protect them.

The leading charity for older people in Scotland has said that progress has been made in recent days in terms of increased access to the necessary personal protective equipment for staff and through announcements of testing for all new care home entrants.

But Age Scotland says more help is urgently needed to give staff and residents the protection they need and reiterated calls that care homes must not be treated as “second tier”.

Brian Sloan, Age Scotland’s Chief Executive, said: “In the last week, we have heard about dozens of deaths in Dumbarton, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, as the virus sweeps through homes in Scotland.

“It must be absolutely terrifying for residents, staff and families as they wonder where the next outbreak will be.

“These are not just statistics – each one is a mother, father, grandparent, sibling or friend who will be deeply missed.

“It is so important that older people in care homes or who are receiving social care in their own home are given every opportunity to get the medical treatment they need to beat this virus and are not written off.”

 

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