Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 19 May 2020
The Covid-19 advisory group to the chief medical officer and, obviously, to the Government, which is led by Professor Andrew Morris, is focusing on that area. That involves consideration of emerging views from the Care Inspectorate about whether there is a difficulty in large care homes—that is, physically large care homes as opposed to groups of care homes—compared to small care homes in relation to effective infection prevention and control, and in relation to proper support, training and guidance for staff who work in those care homes. It is important to make clear that that question is not yet decided and that there is not a concluded view. Members need to be aware that the debate has begun, and that some aspects of both sides of that argument are backed by data and evidence.
In relation to whether there should be a review of large care home operators that have more than one care home, as I said to Ms Baillie, there is an emerging and genuine need for consideration in the medium to longer term—by the Parliament and the Government—of what our care home sector should be, how it should be funded, who should provide it and what we require of it in providing care to our older and more vulnerable citizens, which many of us will be at some point.
However, that is for the medium to long term. My focus just now has to be on dealing with the reality that I face given the way in which the sector is constructed as it stands. I need to navigate my way as best I can through that to ensure that, where possible, we maximise the wellbeing, care and support for residents and staff in the current circumstances.