Scottish ministers failed to visit any care homes during two years of Covid pandemic

Nicola Sturgeon and her senior ministers have admitted failing to visit a single care home since the start of the Covid pandemic.

A total of 4020 residents died with the virus in Scotland and the First Minister has faced tough criticism over the policy of discharging infected patients from hospitals into homes.And there has been fury over postcode lottery-style visiting restrictions that have seen care home residents endure the toughest rules separating them from loved ones.We can reveal Sturgeon, deputy first minister John Swinney, health secretary Humza Yousaf and social care minister Kevin Stewart all avoided visiting a home even once over the last two years.The First Minister has repeatedly said that decisions on Scotland’s 1142 care homes were some of the most difficult that she had to take during the pandemic.Campbell Duke, whose late wife Anne died in a care home last year has fought tirelessly for rights of all care home residents and their families.He said: “In such a human drama somebody from government should have stepped up to the mark and shown some decency, compassion and genuine interest by visiting a care home.”Outraged Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “SNP ministers have appeared out of touch on care homes, before and during the pandemic.“That senior members of the government have not even undertaken a window or garden visit to a care home reveals a lot about their priorities.“Residents, their loved ones and the undervalued staff who support them have been badly failed.“This ‘out of sight, out of mind’ culture cannot continue.“Older and disabled people living in care homes have been locked away and their voices silenced for too long, despite all the advances in vaccines, testing and infection prevention