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Highland MSP backs call for clearer Covid-19 statistics


By Gregor White

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MSP John Finnie believes NHS Highland should provide a regional breakdown of Covid-19 statistics
MSP John Finnie believes NHS Highland should provide a regional breakdown of Covid-19 statistics

CALLS have been made for the Scottish Government to provide a more localised breakdown of confirmed cases of coronavirus.

While figures are released daily on cases within the NHS Highland area, one Highland councillor – echoing calls made by some members of the public – believes more specific figures would be useful.

Inverness councillor Ron Macwilliam said: "The NHS Highland health board area is larger than many countries, so it stands to reason that public health actions will follow from accurate localised data – and it would do no harm to make that public.

"It might even focus some minds on the reality of the situation and be a positive thing for communities.

"It could help the brave volunteers be extra aware to take the necessary precautions if they knew there were cases in a certain area.

"I'm not saying we need names and addresses, but I don't see any problem in saying what the number of cases is in Inverness, Nairn, Dingwall, Wick or any other general location – instead of just the NHS Highland area, which is the size of Belgium."

Highlands and Islands Green MSP John Finnie agrees.

“With such a vast and diverse area to cover I think it would be helpful and, indeed, administratively easy for NHS Highland to release separate figures for each of their four operational areas,” he said.

NHS Highland has so far refused to provide more detail on cases, stating that it is following national guidance on the matter as well as citing concerns about patient confidentiality.

However, while Labour MSP Rhoda Grant had concerns about the resources available to provide a clearer breakdown, she said transparency and openness should always be the government’s and health authority’s policy and added: "I cannot see how patient confidentiality would be broken if the areas were large enough and not small rural locations."

She also raised concerns about transparency around the treatment of coronavirus within the country's care homes.

This week it was confirmed that a resident at Highview House Care Home in the Scorguie area of Inverness has tested positive for Covid-19, along with a number of patients and staff in the city's Royal Northern Infirmary.

Mrs Grant has tabled a parliamentary question asking for details on arrangements for treatment of care home residents and what is being done to ensure homes have adequate supplies of medicine, protective equipment and oxygen.

"I realise these are difficult times for the health authority, for frontline staff and for the Scottish Government, but the lack of information on serious concerns such as these is frustrating and unsettling, especially for those who have loved ones in care," she said.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon insisted earlier this week that "the residents of care homes matter every bit as much to us as people in the community or in hospital".

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