Overview
This project investigates deaths in Scottish Care Homes during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The work makes an initial assessment of excess deaths due to Covid-19 by comparing weekly deaths during the pandemic with weekly deaths in pre-pandemic years.
The study finds that excess mortality during the pandemic has been high in all settings in Scotland, but has been particularly high in care homes. This work was carried out as part of the International Long-Term Care Policy Network.
Publications & Activities
COVID-19 mortality and long-term care: a UK comparison
International Long-term Care Policy Network (2020).
Authors: Bell D, Comas-Herrera A, Henderson D, Jones S, Lemmon E, Moro M, Murphy S, O'Reilly D, Patrignani P,
Deaths in Scottish care homes and COVID-19
International Long Term Care Policy Network (2020).
Authors: Bell D, Henderson D, Lemmon E,
Media
COVID-19 mortality in Scotland's LTC system Edinburgh Health Economics. 2020
COVID-19 and mortality in Scotland's Long-Term Care system International Long-Term Care Policy Network. 2020
BBC QT: Sturgeon's coronavirus record DESTROYED by Scot Tory - 'Highest care home deaths' The Express. 2020
Article quotes Professor David Bell's study into care home deaths.
United Kingdom: New Figures Show Care Homes in England Bore Brunt of UK Coronavirus Deaths
Professor David Bell talks about his research into excess deaths in care homes, featured in Thai News,
Care homes in England bore the brunt of UK coronavirus deaths, new figures show The Daily Mail. 2020
Article quotes Professor David Bell on his research into excess care deaths during the Covid pandemic.
Wales 'performed poorly' with 66% more care home deaths than average during first pandemic peak Nation Cymru. 2020
Features research by Professor David Bell on excess deaths in Welsh care homes during the Covid pandemic.
English excess care home deaths worse in the UK, study finds The Telegraph. 2020
Quotes professor David Bell's research into excess care deaths caused by Covid pandemic.
Care homes in England had greatest increase in excess deaths at height of the COVID-19 pandemic Medical Xpress. 2020
Article quotes Professor David Bell on his research into excess care deaths during the Covid pandemic.
Care homes in England bore the brunt of UK coronavirus deaths, new figures show Sound Health and Lasting Wealth. 2020
Article quotes Professor David Bell on his research into excess care deaths during the Covid pandemic.
Scotland suffered fewer excess deaths than down south at pandemic peak
Professor David Bell talks about his research into excess deaths in care homes in the Scottish Express Newspaper.
BBC Radio 5 Live 07:00 AM, 1pm BBC Radio 5 Live. 2020
Professor David Bell talks about his research into excess deaths in care homes
BBC 2 Radio - 07:00 AM GMT BBC 2 Radio. 2020
Professor David Bell on BBC 2 Radio, talking about his recent research into excess covid deaths in UK care homes.
Scotland had highest number of care home Covid cases in UK, says study The Times. 2020
Professor David Bell talks about his research into excess deaths in care homes
Breakfast - 03:02AM, 04:03AM, 05:08 AM. 05:13AM, 06:15AM. GMT BBC 1 London. 2020
Professor David Bell on BBC1 London Breakfast show. Talks about his recent research into the excess care home deaths.
Care homes in England had greatest increase in excess deaths at height of the COVID-19 pandemic News Press Live. 2020
Relates to Professor David Bell's research into excess care deaths in England.
Care homes in England had greatest increase in excess deaths at height of the COVID-19 pandemic University of Stirling. 2020
Article on University of Stirling's website on Professor's David Bell's research into excess deaths in English care homes.
CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in Scotland: Italian lessons on care homes 'were missed' The Times. 2020
Professor David Bell is quoted in The Times news article saying that hospitals were prioritised over care homes during the pandemic, and lessons had not be learnt from Italy where they warned that the elderly had been more impacted by the virus.
The Times Scotland view on the care homes scandal: Careless in a Crisis The Times. 2020
Professor David Bell quoted in The Times.
Virus cases sent to care homes
Professor David Bell quoted in the Scottish Daily Mail saying how half of all Covid deaths in Scotland took place in care homes.
At least 37 Covid-carrying patients discharged to Scottish care homes The National. 2020
Article references study by Professor David Bell about deaths in care homes during the pandemic
Hospitals in five Scottish health boards sent patients into care homes after they had tested positive for covid-19 The Sunday Post. 2020
Article references study by Professor David Bell about deaths in care homes during the pandemic.
Revealed: The 'absolutely staggering' postcode lottery of Scots care home deaths The Herald. 2020
News article in The Herald refers to research by Professor David Bell.
Health secretary 'deeply regrets' pain of NHS shutdown and warns restart will not be a 'flick of the switch' moment The Scotsman. 2020
Comments from Professor David Bell on the decision to discharge elderly patients back into care homes.
Revealed: The scale of "hasty" move of elderly from hospital to Scots care homes over coronavirus The Herald. 2020
Professor David Bell comments on the discharge of the elderly to care homes at the outset of the pandemic.
Delayed Hospital Discharges in Scotland: What Happened in March 2020? International Long Term Care Network. 2020
Professor David Bell comments on the discharge of the elderly to care homes at the outset of the pandemic
Scotland not behind curve as Sturgeon claims, coronavirus figures show The Times. 2020
Quotes research by Professor David Bell regarding the unreporting of deaths in Scottish care homes.
Scotland's care homes death toll likely to be 'significantly' higher than official figures show The Telegraph. 2020
Article in The Telegraph quoting research by Professor David Bell
Deaths in Scottish care homes and COVID-19 International Long Term Care Network. 2020
Links to report by David Bell, David Henderson and Elizabeth Lemmon about the impact of COVID-19 on the care homes in Scotland.
