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Frustrated families threaten to stop paying nursing home fees in protest of not being able to see their loved ones
The claim follows anger over the lack of contact from families who expected regular visits of up to four hours and close contact with relatives.
Scottish Labor MSP Neil Findlay raised the concerns in a tense exchange in Holyrood on Tuesday that saw him label SNP Deputy Leader Keith Brown “ignorant” and “clown” for booing.
Findlay called for urgent talks between political parties led by Health Secretary Jeane Freeman on emergency legislation to achieve safe contact for families and residents of nursing homes.
He cautioned: “It is really important to families. Over the weekend, I have spoken with families who are prepared to take action that they really do not want to take, including legal action and withholding of nursing home fees.”
(Image: PA)
Findlay said: “I ask the cabinet secretary not to force families to do that. We should have those talks, this afternoon or tomorrow, to see how we can remedy the situation, because it is absolutely critical.”
Earlier, she told MSPs that her mother is a resident of a nursing home. He said people are sick of being told they will have better access only to find that they are not getting what they bargained for.
He recalled that visits to the interior of parliament of up to four hours were announced in October.
“I don’t know of anyone who has had a four-hour visit,” Findlay said.
“We also hear about open-air visits with up to six visitors and increased personal interaction, including hugging and holding hands, as long as PPE and infection prevention and control measures are followed. That’s a fantasy for most. of families. I certainly dream of that happening. “
Brown, the SNP’s leading deputy, interrupted Findlay in the debating chamber demanding a question, prompting an angry exchange.
Findlay said, “I’ll ask a question when I get there. Don’t be so ignorant. This is an extremely important topic.”
The Holyrood president asked for order, before Findlay added: “If you think this is not an important issue, you should speak to yourself. Clown.”
(Image: REACH PLC)
Freeman agreed to the call for cross-party talks, saying, “I don’t disagree for a minute with Neil Findlay about how important he is to families and residents. I hear him when I meet with the foster family group, as I did, most recently, last week. I also heard it from my constituents and my family, so I absolutely understand it.
“I am very happy to see what else we as a government can do, but we should also be frank with people about the limitations regarding time frame and action.
“I am happy to talk about it, but in circumstances where nursing homes do not want to follow the guide and are not open to visitation, we should not pretend that we can force them to do so, as that should be taken into account.
“Nor can we pretend that if we wanted to do it, we could do it quickly.
“I’m happy to see and discuss that, but we shouldn’t establish it as some kind of binary position, where people are either on the right side or the wrong side.
“I think Mr. Findlay and I are on the same side. I may not be moving fast enough for him and I may not be doing everything he wants, but we should have the discussion to see what else is possible.”
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