Highland councillor loses father to Covid–19, in striken care home in Skye
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A Highland councillor from Skye has spoken of his grief after losing his father to coronavirus.
Councillor John Gordon (Eilean a' Cheò) said his father, John Angus Gordon (83), had died at Home Farm Care Home in Portree.
The care home is at the centre of a Covid–19 outbreak with five fatalities, after 28 of the home's 34 residents and 27 of its 52 staff tested positive for Covid–19.
Cllr Gordon praised staff in the care home, many of whom continued going to work after the high number of cases were revealed.
He said his dad's care was excellent and that "questions will need to be asked about why it spread where it did".
He heard about the outbreak through a care home staff member's post on social media, saying: "Like a lot of people, we saw a Facebook post of someone who worked there, and he had been tested and it was positive. It was a concern for my father and the other residents and staff. Like a lot of families we phoned the home and we were all deeply concerned."
He continued: "Like other families we got a call late on Friday night at about 10.30pm, just to say that my dad had tested positive but had no symptoms.
"But overnight he became unwell and had laboured breathing. We were concerned, but due to restrictions, we could not go and see him.
"Thanks to staff, and an iPad we were able to spend time with our dad. He has had dementia for many years. But we knew we were with him."
