Scottish care worker dies of suspected coronavirus

A care worker in West Dunbartonshire has reportedly died of suspected coronavirus. 

The news comes as the latest official statistics (5 April) show that 3,706 people have tested positive to the disease, and 220 patients who tested positive have died.

The Scottish Labour health spokesman, Monica Lennon said the death of a member ‘of the social care family will be met with great sadness’.

‘Scotland-wide, it is worrying that absence levels among the social care workforce are soaring, as are fears about the lack of personal protective equipment,’ said Ms Lennon. 

The deputy leader of the Scottish Labour party, Jackie Baillie, added that access to protective equipment and clothing for health and social care staff is ‘a problem across Scotland’.

‘Supplies are rationed because there is simply not enough and the strategy appears to be determined by that shortage of supply, rather than what health guidance dictates.’

Last week, the Scottish Government announced new measures to get personal protective equipment (PPE) to health and social care workers, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread.

The government confirmed it will be issuing almost 8m items of PPE in the coming week to support primary care and social workers.

The GMB’s Scotland organiser Hazel Nolan added: ‘This has been a sobering and tragic week for our social care sector, and a sad new low for Scotland in the fight against coronavirus, Our condolences and love are with the staff, residents and families affected.

‘We will make no comment on individual cases but the events of the last few days in particular should re-focus the minds of our political leaders and health experts about the nature of what is actually happening on the ground.

‘The lack of consistency around guidance and the lack of resources to mitigate infection at work is causing frontline workers to lose whatever confidence they had in the response. The advice being given is resource led, not science led,’ added Ms Nolan.

Photo Credit – Geralt (Pixabay)