Covid in Scotland: Seven deaths at West Lothian care home

Redmill care home in East Whitburn has been closed to visitors and all residents are self-isolating

Seven residents at a West Lothian care home have now died in a Covid-19 outbreak, NHS Lothian has confirmed.

It comes after four deaths were linked to Redmill care home in East Whitburn on Friday.

The health board said it was dealing with a "significant outbreak" and a multi-agency team continued to offer support.

More than 50 staff and residents at the home, which is run by HC-One, have tested positive since 25 September.

The health board said Redmill had been closed to visitors and all residents were self-isolating with additional testing for staff also introduced.

Dr Richard Othieno, public health consultant at the health board, said: "Early action to isolate residents and begin enhanced testing has enabled us to identify positive cases before they become symptomatic.

"Even without an outbreak, and without showing any of the classic symptoms of Covid-19, residents in this care home are tested if they appear at all unwell or not their usual selves.

"Repeat rounds of testing of residents and staff is continuing and the situation is being monitored very closely."

Control measures

He added: "As part of the infection control measures, the home was closed to visitors.

"We know this is difficult for residents and their relatives, but it is necessary to ensure the outbreaks are brought under control as quickly as possible and we thank relatives for their co-operation and understanding.

Delays in test results has previously seen the home's testing regime branded a "shambles" by an MSP.

Labour's Neil Findlay said it had taken six days for a complete home-testing regime to be organised after the first coronavirus case was detected at Redmill.

He said he had been contacted by worried relatives and that some of the 28 staff and 20 residents had waited longer than nine days for Covid test results.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has promised to investigate any issues with testing.

The care home is one of two in the NHS Lothian area currently dealing with Covid clusters.

At Redmill, 55 residents and staff have tested positive, while at Milford House in Edinburgh there have been 31 positive test results.

The health board has said a "small number" of people have died but will not give precise figures because of patient confidentiality.

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