Coronavirus: Tenth resident dies at Skye care home
- Published
Ten residents have died at Home Farm, with almost all of its residents and many staff contracting the virus
A tenth resident has died with coronavirus at a care home on Skye.
A total of 30 residents and 29 staff have tested positive for Covid-19 at Home Farm care home.
NHS Highland is helping run the home after the Care Inspectorate raised "serious and significant concerns".
A spokesman for HC-One, which runs the home, said: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with all families who have lost a loved one."
The company said it was "doing its utmost to support them during this difficult time".
On Thursday , the Care Inspectorate began legal action which could prevent HC-One running the facility.
HC-One said it was disappointed the Care Inspectorate had taken the legal action, adding that it was working with NHS Highland to implement a "robust action plan".
Temporary staff
Skye had no confirmed cases of Covid-19 prior to the outbreak at Home Farm. All but four of the home's 34 residents have contracted the virus.
HC-One - the UK's largest care home operator - has had to bring in temporary staff from outside the island, but insisted these were from homes that were believed to be Covid-free.
Families of the residents have criticised HC-One for only giving out limited information and for a "lack of transparency" about events at the home.
An Army mobile testing site has been established on the island following the outbreak
Fay Thomson, whose sister has tested positive for Covid-19, said the local community had no confidence in the company to run the business.
She told BBC Scotland's Drivetime: "It's worrying in the respect that this is pretty drastic action for the Care Inspectorate to take, so exactly what did they find?
"The community was already shaken by what had happened at Home Farm, but this has put it on another level.
"There have been a lot of incidents in the past that, in my view, are totally unacceptable.
"There wouldn't be the confidence now for HC-One to continue."
'Only two alternatives'
Ms Thomson called on NHS Highland to remain in charge "for the foreseeable future and hopefully permanently".
She said: "There really are only two alternatives. Either the home shuts and residents are moved elsewhere, which would be horrific. Or NHS Highland takes over full running of the place.
"That's what we need to hear right now - not that they are involved in partnerships or wishy-washy statements that no-one knows what they mean."