THE lives of residents in East Renfrewshire's private care homes are at "grave risk" without more funding from the Scottish Government and council chiefs, it is claimed.

Robert Kilgour, owner of Whitecraigs Care Home, in Thornliebank, said residents and staff are "enduring an absolutely torrid time."

He warned that private care homes have been pushed into the "last chance saloon" by the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Kilgour, founder of Renaissance Care, which has 15 care homes across Scotland, said there is an urgent need for additional funding.

READ MORE: Top councillor criticised for "transphobic" comment about Greta Thunberg

He added: "Our brave staff are fighting 24/7 against the coronavirus onslaught, with many working enormous shifts to care for those they consider to be their second families, but unless we get desperately-needed funding to the frontline of this battle, thousands more elderly people in care homes will die across the UK.

"That is the grim reality facing the care home sector and the Scottish Government and local authorities need to act now.

"With a few honourable exceptions, such as Fife and Dumfries and Galloway councils, Scottish local authorities are refusing to fund their independent care homes to the same level as their own local authority facilities.

READ MORE: Walkers urged to play their part in preventing risk of fire

"It's a national scandal and is putting vulnerable people's lives at grave risk.

"We really are in the last chance saloon if we want to save our social care sector.

"Without proper and fair financial support from the Scottish Government, I fear that many Scottish care homes will close and we will face bed blocking within Scottish hospitals at an unprecedented level."

Yesterday, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman revealed half of care homes in Scotland have now had a confirmed or suspected case of coronavirus.

She stressed further measures are being put in place to protect residents and staff, along with "top-up and emergency" provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) from the Scottish Government.

Ms Freeman added: "NHS directors of public health are now providing enhanced clinical leadership and have contacted every care home in Scotland.

READ MORE: RAH staff join minute’s silence for frontline workers lost to coronavirus

"They are assessing how each home is managing infection control, staffing, training, physical distancing and testing.

"We have provided a direct delivery of PPE to care homes and have worked with local partners to significantly improve the operation of local PPE hubs.

"Because the supply of PPE is primarily the responsibility of care home providers in both the private and the public sector, we will continue to provide both top-up and emergency provision to ensure staff have what they need and the residents have that protection.

"Work is also underway to ensure that all Covid-19 patients being discharged from hospital should provide two negative tests before discharge and that all new admissions to care homes and all residents who are symptomatic should be tested and those new admissions should be isolated for 14 days."