Age Scotland reported from March to May 2020 staff were left without appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) causing significant challenges in controlling infection and keeping residents safe.iAge Scotland, Written Evidence
Age Scotland also advised their helplines were hearing that some people in care homes were being pre-emptively denied access to medical treatment—
“Concerned family members of residents in care homes who were told GPs would not visit the care home unless there was an emergency”.iAge Scotland, Written Evidence
In one care home, Age Scotland was told, family members were informed that “if their relative contracted COVID-19 they would not be offered treatment, but instead end of life care would be provided”.iAge Scotland, Written Evidence
Although Age Scotland accepted being admitted to hospital might not always be appropriate, predetermined decisions in advance of a resident falling ill does not treat them as an individual, but instead “amounts to age discrimination, violating their fundamental human rights”.iAge Scotland, Written Evidence
SHRC said the situation experienced in care homes raises issues under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as well as other international conventions and treaties.