Scottish Government apologises for asking care home residents to wear face masks

Care home residents in Scotland will not be required to wear face masks the Scottish Government has said, following a backlash from families which forced it to apologise.

Guidance issued for Scotland on 7 June stated care home residents must wear a disposable face mask (FRSM) from 25 June when receiving personal care or in communal spaces of the home, unless they were exempt.

The guidance sparked anger amongst families and care homes and has since prompted the Scottish Government to make a U-turn and remove the requirement.

‘We have listened’

Scotland's chief nursing officer Amanda Croft said: “The Scottish Government and I apologise to care home staff, residents and their friends and family for the confusion caused by our guidance.

"We have listened and acted to clarify and update it.”

New guidance, updated 23 June, states: ‘Residents in a care home are not required to wear a FRSM or face covering within the care home, which is first and foremost their own home.

‘It is a resident's choice whether to wear one as an additional layer of protection, and all times the needs and choices of care home residents should be the primary consideration.'

The new guidance goes on to state: ‘Residents in an adult care homes are encouraged to wear a FRSM, where this can be tolerated and will not negatively impact on their health or wellbeing or compromise the level of care provided to them, when they are in communal spaces without physical distancing measures in place or when receiving direct care - when this will not compromise the care activity taking place.’

Care Home Relatives Scotland had called the mask-wearing policy an ‘unacceptable form of control and restraint’.

In a tweet on 24 June, Scotland’s health and social care secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I know this caused some upset amongst residents & their families. I hope this update provides clarification on our position.

"Thanks to care home relatives who have been in touch & provided feedback."