A NUMBER of residents have died in a coronavirus outbreak at a third care home operated by HC-One, the firm has said.
The company told the PA news agency that 20 residents at Hatton Lea Care Home in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, have tested positive for the virus.
HC-One said due to privacy reasons it is unable to confirm how many residents have died from suspected or confirmed Covid-19.
It added the outbreak is confined to one of the five separate buildings at the home, where 11 members of staff have also tested positive and are all self-isolating.
HC-One is the same private company which ran the Home Farm Care Home on Skye, where 10 residents died of Covid earlier this year.
READ MORE: Widow brands Scottish care home operator a 'disgrace' after husband's death
Concerns around mismanagement of the island care home led to a Scottish Government takeover, with the Skye property now being owned and run by NHS Highland.
Solicitors representing the families of residents who died at Home Farm Care Home in Skye, formerly run by HC-One, have urged the company to be more transparent in its handling of outbreaks.
HC-One also runs Redmill Care Home in West Lothian, where the deaths of at least 15 people have been linked to Covid-19.
Pamela Rodgers, associate at PBW Law, which is representing multiple families of Home Farm residents, described the Redmill outbreak as "history repeating itself".
A spokesperson for the Hatton Lea Care Home said: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with all families who have lost a loved one from coronavirus and we are doing our utmost to support them during this difficult time.
"Our senior team are supporting local colleagues so that we can help as many residents as possible to return to good health and we are working closely with Public Health to respond to the outbreak and facilitate testing at the home which is continuing.
READ MORE: Scots patients who tested positive for Covid were discharged to care homes
"The home continues to be well supplied with the medical equipment and PPE needed to protect residents and colleagues.
"The coronavirus outbreak at the home is currently contained to one of the five separate buildings at Hatton Lea - we are taking all necessary precautions to minimise the risk of transmission to other colleagues and residents."
She added: "We are in regular contact with the next of kin of our residents, and we are grateful for their ongoing support and understanding.
"We are also proud of our colleagues and how they have shown huge dedication and commitment to our residents."
The PA news agency reports that the outbreak began on October 15. By October 20, 18 of the 29 residents in the unit had tested positive.
Several residents were subsequently admitted to hospital.
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