A campaign group has written to Scotland’s top police officer demanding an investigation into the deaths of a nurse and a patient following a COVID-19 outbreak at an Ayrshire psychiatric ward.
The group, Action for Safe and Accountable People’s NHS (ASAP-NHS), allege that criminal wrongdoing took place following the death of Ayrshire nursing assistant Neil Alexander, 64, and an unnamed patient.
They both died after COVID-19 rampaged its way through a psychiatric ward at Woodland View, Irvine.
It’s understood that 20 staff and patients were affected by the outbreak.
The campaign group allege that ‘major breaches’ took place in notifying the deaths and infection outbreak to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
NHS Ayrshire & Arran issued results of an internal review into the deaths and absolved themselves from blame.
The organisation insisted that “appropriate processes and procedures were in place” and were “in line with national guidance and the infection control manual.”
However, ASAP say they ‘marked their own homework.’
In a letter to Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, ASAP spokesperson Roger Livermore alleges that ‘major crimes’ took place and there was an ‘unlawful cover-up’ of the notification of the deaths to the HSE.
The group further states that an investigation should be carried out and it requires ‘immediate action’ from police.
The furore stems from a Covid outbreak at the unit. In its wake, Mr Alexander and a patient tragically died.
The health board carried out an interval review but said there were “no recommendations required.”
It did highlight one breach of Covid guidance in a single car share between staff members not wearing masks.
NHS insiders have also condemned the report’s findings, saying the health board’s infection control measures and PPE at Woodland View were ‘inadequate.’
ASAP said: “Four months after the death of Mr Alexander and a patient from a ward-wide COVID-19 infection, there has still been no start to the legally-required investigation into the deaths.
“This work-related death needs an investigation to start now with Police Scotland.”
NHS Ayrshire & Arran said in an earlier response last week: “Due to staff confidentiality, it would still be inappropriate for us to comment on the circumstances in relation to Neil’s death.
“However, we can offer reassurance again that NHS Ayrshire & Arran has robust processes to manage cases of COVID-19 amongst patients and staff to reduce the risk of outbreaks developing in accordance with NHS Scotland COVID-19 guidance.
“We can confirm that the appropriate PPE has been, and still is, available to staff across NHS Ayrshire & Arran.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said on Tuesday: “We have been requested to carry out enquiries into the deaths by the Crown Office and procurator fiscal service.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government confirmed it will be “seeking further information” from NHS Ayrshire & Arran surrounding the deaths.
“Since the outbreak of the pandemic," the spokesperson added, "we have put stringent protocols in place to ensure infection prevention and control measures in hospital and other care settings are robust.
“This includes the appropriate use of PPE, extended use of face masks and coverings, physical distancing, outbreak management, the expansion of asymptomatic patient-facing staff testing and admission testing to ensure patients are placed in the appropriate pathway.
“The health secretary [Humza Yousaf] has expressed his deepest condolences to the family of Mr Alexander, as well as his friends and the colleagues he worked with tirelessly on the front line of this pandemic.”
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