FOUR more elderly residents of an East Renfrewshire care home lost their lives to suspected Covid-19 infections.

Westacres, in Newton Mearns, last week confirmed four residents died over a period of more than two weeks and were aged 91, 98, 101 and 104.

Another four, all aged in their 90s, passed away at the weekend, the home said. Each had other health issues.

As there is no current testing of residents or staff in nursing homes, their deaths can only be recorded as due to "suspected" coronavirus.

The 101-year-old who passed away can be named as Ida Schuster, a renowned Scottish actress known for 1960s shows This Man Craig and Dr Finlay's Casebook, with later appearances in Taggart, Hamish Macbeth and Still Game.

Her career began in the back courts of Glasgow tenements during the Great Depression when she stage impromptu performances for neighbours.

Ida also presented the Glasgow podcast Old School, giving her the distinction of the world's oldest podcaster.

Jack Ryan, CEO of Newark Care, the charity which runs Westacres, told the Barrhead News the first four residents to die had slight temperatures and that was enough to be classed as suspected cases.

One person who is marked as "suspected" for Covid-19 had a stroke - there is simply no testing to confirm coronavirus in patients, nor in staff.

But Mr Ryan said, thankfully, three residents who had possible coronavirus symptoms have now recovered.

He said: "We desperately want testing to help allay fears amongst our staff.

"It would be so much better if they were entitled to a test."

Mr Ryan said despite national guidance to expand testing to care home and social care workers, one of his staff was turned away without a test in Maryhill on Monday evening, despite showing symptoms.

He added: "Staff are under a great deal of pressure and need as much support in the community as they can get."

Some of the more than 60 staff at Westacres have had to self-isolate in recent weeks with possible symptoms.

Mr Ryan said the staff who can't work are then "filled with guilt" at not being able to look after their residents.

He added: "They build a relationship with residents. We are living in their home, this is their house.

"Staff all have anxieties. We are constantly trying to encourage them and keep morale up. We have to continue to work with them and let them see the work they're doing is as important as the NHS we applaud on Thursdays.

"It's an incredible struggle for families. We keep relatives up to date and I write personal updates to them every week."

Any care professional visiting someone with suspected symptoms would need a new mask each time they go into the room, making it "very resource intensive," said Mr Ryan.

On Friday the care home warned they faced running out of PPE by Monday, but they were saved by donations from local businesses such as dental surgeries and Newton Mearns youngster Alex Cohen, who has been making reusable face shields with a 3D printer.

The 15-year-old pupil delivered six visors each to Westacres care home and its sister home, Burnfield, in Giffnock, where there are currently no suspected cases.

Mr Ryan said any donations of PPE would be greatly and warmly received. But he said residents would also welcome letters, photos or artwork from the community and youngsters home from school.

He added: "They make a huge difference to residents. We need the support of the community."