Care home residents were paraded “like an exhibit at a reptile museum” during pandemic visiting restrictions, the Scottish Covid Inquiry has heard.

In her opening remarks to the Inquiry yesterday on behalf of Care Home Relatives Scotland, Amber Galbraith KC, said residents were left feeling “isolated, unheard and discriminated against”.

“Relatives were not afforded the same opportunity to interact with their loved one that employed carers had,” she said.

“Why were carers considered less of a risk to health than parents or children?

“Their mental state may have been such that all they knew was being suddenly left with no visits, no touch, not even allowed to see others in the home.

“Perhaps they would be paraded out behind glass like an exhibit at a reptile museum or a prisoner.”

The first set of hearings in Scotland is focused on the implementation of measures and key decision-making in relation to health and social care.

Further hearings on education and young people, and finance, business and welfare are to follow.

The Scottish Covid Inquiry is investigating the devolved strategic response to the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland and will present its findings and make recommendations to Scottish ministers.

Hearings in the 2 Module of the UK Covid Inquiry on decision making and political governance run until 14 December.

Public evidence in the first module on preparedness for the pandemic ended in July with a report on its conclusions due in 2024.