Health bosses have apologised after vulnerable care home residents underwent the potentially “distressing” coronavirus test only for the results to be destroyed.
Residents of Badenscoth House, in Rothienorman, were tested for Covid-19 earlier this week, only for family to be told public health officials had ordered the tests to be destroyed.
Last night NHS Grampian said the care home seemed to have “misunderstood” the roll-out of staff-only testing, and admitted the confusion would likely have caused “additional distress” to residents and to their families.
All those staying at the privately-run 26-bed home had been tested before it was clarified only staff swabs would be processed.
A spokesman for the home said staff were left “very frustrated”, as the order forms for test kits had specifically asked for the number of residents and supplies were sent out accordingly.
He said: “Why were the tests sent for residents if we were not meant to test them? And why were we asked to get residents’ consent?
“It’s very frustrating as we had gone to the great lengths to test all residents, as some have complex care needs.
“We were successful in doing that before being told the tests had to be destroyed.
“Three different staff members read the form and were all left with the same impression that residents should be tested.”
Swab testing involves taking samples from inside the nose and throat.
The Scottish Government has ruled all care home staff should be tested weekly, setting up a dedicated system to facilitate this.
All care home residents and staff showing symptoms of the infection are tested, while there is a rolling programme of Covid-19 surveillance testing of residents too.
“NHS Grampian recognises that this situation has caused additional distress to the residents and to their families,” a spokeswoman for the health board said.
“We would like to apologise to residents and their families for any confusion this has caused and offer our reassurance that testing will be carried out in every case where it is required.
“The care home involved appear to have misunderstood the purpose of the weekly staff tests and took samples from residents as well as staff.
“Unfortunately this system does not accept tests taken from residents and so the samples had to be destroyed.”
Last night, the daughter of one dementia patient at the home said the apparent miscommunication was a “shambles” and heralded staff for being “fantastic” throughout the pandemic.
She added: “I was quite excited when I found out my mum was to be tested and now I just feel NHS Grampian are trying to find a scapegoat.”
