Currently convening in Edinburgh, the UK COVID-19 Inquiry is looking into how the devolved administration handled the pandemic.
There are “no risk-free choices” when deciding whether to implement social distancing measures in care facilities, according to Ms. Freeman, who served as Scotland’s health secretary during the period before the 2021 Holyrood election.
During her tenure, she oversaw important decisions including sending patients to care homes without first having them tested for COVID.
She stated at the inquiry: “I was very concerned about our care sector and regret very much, and will do for the rest of my life, any deaths that occurred there because of action the Scottish government didn’t, or did take, and could have done better.”
Saying that the problems raised by the care sector are not urgent or important enough is untrue, according to Ms. Freeman.
She expressed “two-fold” concerns about the placement of patients in care facilities, saying she felt compelled to make sure that those who were prepared to leave the hospital were not detained there any longer, increasing the danger of virus infection or worsening muscle weakness.
“Against that was the risk of transferring people to care homes who had not been tested,” she stated.
