SUPPORT is being offered to a Renfrewshire care home hit by suspected Covid-19 fatalities.

The Care Inspectorate has confirmed there have been deaths at Inchinnan Care Home as the coronavirus pandemic continues to take its toll but declined to say how many residents have lost their lives.

A concerned member of the public with a connection to the home, in Old Greenock Road, Inchinnan, alerted The Gazette to the tragic deaths.

Inchinnan Care Home is run by care operator LittleInch, which declined to comment.

However, a spokesman for the Care Inspectorate told The Gazette: “We are aware of the tragic deaths of residents at this care home as a result of suspected cases of Covid-19.

“Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those affected, as well as the staff and wider community of the home.

“We have been notified of the circumstances and we are in contact with the care service and the local health and social care partnership during this difficult time.

“All of Scotland’s social care sector is working tirelessly under very difficult circumstances to care for people during the pandemic and the Care Inspectorate is doing all it can to support them.”

In October last year, the care home was criticised by inspectors after a check-up revealed a number of failings.

Staff were observed sharing medical equipment among several residents and using dirty wheelchairs.

The Care Inspectorate graded the home as ‘weak’ or ‘adequate’ across all areas.

Despite several shortcomings, inspectors did praise the home for having an ‘approachable’ and ‘supportive’ new management team.

It was stated the management team had been responsive to concerns raised throughout the check-up.

Nearly half of all fatalities from Covid-19 in Renfrewshire have taken place in care homes.

Last month, it was revealed that 24 deaths linked to coronavirus had been reported at care homes run by the Erskine veterans charity.

Eleven deaths were at the main facility – The Erskine Home, in Bishopton – while 12 were recorded at the nearby Erskine Park Home.

More than 20 deaths at Elderslie Care Home, in Paisley, were linked to Covid-19.

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

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