Coronavirus: Deaths at Peterhead care home confirmed

Kirkburn Court is in Peterhead

A number of residents at an Aberdeenshire care home have died with coronavirus.

Barchester Healthcare said some people at Kirkburn Court in Peterhead had "tragically" died.

However, it is not known how many residents have lost their lives.

Kirkburn Court care home looks after private residents and those placed there by the local authority, and offers specialist nursing and dementia care.

Barchester said in a statement: "We are reporting all Covid-19 information to the relevant authorities, and it is a constantly changing picture.

"However, we can confirm that we have had individuals confirmed with Covid-19 at the home, and tragically some of those have sadly passed away.

"Every one of these deaths is a tragedy for all of us, and we send our heartfelt condolences to our residents, their families and our staff that have suffered."

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Barchester said the home was in regular contact with Health Protection Scotland and the local authority.

Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership and NHS Grampian said in a joint statement that every death related to Covid-19, whether in a care home or in the community, was "truly a tragedy".

The statement said: "We work closely with all care homes in the Peterhead area, including Kirkburn, to ensure that each home has all the support they need, whether that be in accessing PPE supplies, extra staffing support or testing.

"The specialist health protection team ensures all homes can access help, support and advice in infection prevention and control measures, as well as advice and guidance on the use of PPE and testing.

"All care homes can escalate any concerns they may have to us at any time."

'Working tirelessly'

The Care Inspectorate said: "We are aware of the tragic deaths of residents at this care home as a result of suspected cases of Covid-19.

"Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those affected as well as the staff and wider community of the home.

"We have been notified of the circumstances and we are in contact with the care service and the local health and social care partnership during this difficult time."

The statement added: "All of Scotland's social care sector is working tirelessly under very difficult circumstances to care for people during the pandemic and the Care Inspectorate is doing all it can to support them."

Figures released last week showed that, up to 10 May, 93 deaths at care homes in Grampian had coronavirus on the death certificate.

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