Scotland to hold public inquiry into coronavirus response, Sturgeon confirms

Announcement likely to increase pressure on Boris Johnson to confirm probe into UK government's handling of crisis

Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed there will be a public inquiry into Scotland's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

It came after the first minister faced claims from Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw that residents in care homes had been "treated like second-class citizens".

The Scottish government previously revealed more than 900 hospital patients had been discharged into such facilities in March before testing for the virus became mandatory.

Mr Carlaw described the Covid-19 outbreak in care homes as "a national scandal" and asked Ms Sturgeon whether she would order "a formal pubic inquiry into what has happened".

The first minister replied: "Of course there will be a public inquiry into this whole crisis and every aspect of this crisis, and that will undoubtedly include what happened in care homes."

The announcement will increase pressure on Boris Johnson to confirm an inquiry into the UK's handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Bereaved families of Covid-19 victims have previously called for a probe into the government's response to be launched as swiftly as possible to prevent a cover-up and ensure mistakes are not repeated. A petition calling for an inquiry into alleged failures on testing and PPE has passed 100,000 signatures.

But ministers have refused be drawn on the issue, with Dominic Raab telling a press conference last month there would be "lessons to be learned" but only "when we get through this crisis".

Mr Carlaw's call for a public inquiry came during First Minister's Questions as he raised the case of a Glasgow woman whose mother died in a care home in the city after contracting coronavirus.

Sandra O'Neill's mother Mary died at the Almond Court care home in Drumchapel in April, the Scottish Tory leader said. She had seen seeing elderly people returned to the home "despite clearly being ill", he added.

Mr Carlaw said there was a "growing feeling that residents like Sandra's mother were treated like second-class citizens".

He added: "With or without hindsight, it is now clear that what happened in our care homes in March and April was a national scandal.

"The tragic stories of people like Sandra's mother underline the need not just for a review but for a formal pubic inquiry into what has happened in our care homes specifically."

Pressed by Mr Carlaw and Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard on whether patients with Covid-19 symptoms were discharged to care homes, Ms Sturgeon replied: "Clearly I did not see every patient who was discharged to a care home.

"I cannot stand here and give a categoric assurance that no patient with symptoms was discharged, it would be wrong for me to do that."

She said "very, very clear" guidance was in place at the time that risk assessments should have been carried out before patients left hospital.

Ms Sturgeon also recalled that at the time when many hospital patients were transferred into care homes, "we were waiting for a tsunami of coronavirus cases to enter our hospitals".

The first minister said: "It would have been unthinkable to leave older people there in the face of that, that would have put them at huge risk and many I am sure would have died in those circumstances.

"And I think I would be getting asked different questions right now."