Investigations into events at Abbotswoods care home should be made public once they have been completed.

Health and Social Care Minister David Ashford outlined this evening why there will be more than one investigation into the events at the care home where 19 lives were claimed by Covid-19.

During this week’s Tynwald sitting, Chief Minister Howard Quayle said that investigations at Abbotswood have begun.

Mr Ashford said that once the reports are complete he ’would expect’ them to be made public.

The Minister confirmed ’there is an independent investigation under the registrations inspections act’.

He said that as the DHSC had stepped in to take over the running of the care home on a temporary basis, it was ’only right’ to allow an independent body to investigate the tragic circumstances at the home.

’The reason the Chief Minister referred to investigations, is that obviously there are safeguarding issues involved as well’, Mr Ashford added.

As the Isle of Man has its own safeguarding board for health and social care, several bodies will be able to investigate.

Today was also the day when the final residents of Abbotswood began to temporarily move out of the home.

Members of staff from the Abbotswood home lined the street and clapped as ambulances ferried the residents to the Noble’s Hospital site.

They are being transferred to Community Covid ward at Newlands and to the reconfigured former private patients unit.

Some staff members held up banners with messages including ’I care and am proud to be part of the Abbotswood team’.