Scotland’s chief medical officer has apologised live on TV after she was given a police warning for ignoring her own advice, by visiting her family’s retreat more than 40 miles from her main home.
Doctor Catherine Calderwood said her actions were ‘a mistake and human error’ and that were ‘no excuses’.
But while standing in a press conference beside Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who faced mounting calls to sack the medical expert, she said her intention was to ‘continue to focus’ on her role.
It comes after photographs, published in The Scottish Sun on Saturday, showed Dr Calderwood and her family near their coastal retreat in Earlsferry, Fife, over the weekend.
Scotland´s Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood and her family were spotted near her coastal retreat in Earlsferry this weekend
Photographs, first published in The Scottish Sun on Saturday, showed Dr Calderwood (right) near the cottage in Earlsferry, which is more than 40 miles from her Edinburgh home. Here Dr Calderwood is pictured with Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (left)
The images emerged amid continuing advice from the Scottish government to stay at home in order to save lives and protect the NHS. Dr Calderwood (pictured left) with Scotland’s Health Secretary Jeane Freeman
According to the Scottish Sun, Dr Calderwood’s main home is just two-and-a-half miles from the Scottish Government building in Edinburgh, where she delivers daily briefings on the virus with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Earlsferry is 44 miles away from Edinburgh – a drive of around an hour.
A source for the Scottish Sun accused the doctor of ‘dangerous double standards’, while users of social media site, Twitter, have branded her actions as ‘ridiculous’ and embarrassing’.
Doctor Catherine Calderwood’s first statement is full
Here is the statement issued by Doctor Catherine Calderwood earlier today:
‘I wish to apologise unreservedly for the issue reported in the media today.
‘While there are reasons for what I did, they do not justify it and they were not legitimate reasons to be out of my home.
‘While I and my family followed the guidance on social distancing at all times, I understand that I did not follow the advice I am giving to others, and I am truly sorry for that.
‘I know how important this advice is and I do not want my mistake to distract from that.
‘I have a job to do as chief medical officer to provide advice to ministers on the path of this virus and to support the medical profession as they work night and day to save lives, and having spoken with the First Minister this morning I will continue to focus entirely on that job.’
The photographs prompted Police Scotland’s Chief Constable, Iain Livingston, to issue a statement today, in which he said that Dr Calderwood had been visited by officers and warned about her future conduct.
In a statement, Dr Calderwood described her actions as a ‘mistake’ and apologised ‘unreservedly’.
But this afternoon she took part in a press conference in which she read out a statement.
Speaking at the press conference, she said: ‘I have already issued a statement today apologising unreservedly for travelling away from my home while restrictions were in place.
‘As well as this weekend, it is important to be clear that was also there last weekend with my husband.
‘I did not follow advice I am giving to others. I am truly sorry for that.’
‘What I did was wrong. I am very sorry. It will not happen again.
‘I realise how important the advice is that I have issued, I do not want my mistake to distract from that.’
The images emerged amid continuing advice from the Scottish government, the chief medical officer herself, and other leading medical professionals to stay at home in order to save lives and protect the NHS.
It also comes just days after the 51-year-old tweeted a photo of her family from their main residence in Edinburgh as they clapped for the front-line NHS staff working to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Last month, the Scottish Government issued a travel warning criticising the ‘irresponsible behaviour’ of people with second homes and campervans travelling to the Highlands in a bid to isolate.
On Friday, the First Minister said the upcoming Easter break would be ‘a holiday period unlike any we’ve had in our lifetimes’.
Last week Dr Calderwood, 51, tweeted a photo of her family from their main residence in Edinburgh as they clapped for the front-line NHS staff working to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Dr Calderwood, a trained consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, stressed people should adhere to the restrictions, and said it was looking less likely summer holidays will take place this year as they have done previously.
Yesterday, it was revealed 46 people had died from coronavirus in Scotland, bringing the total number of deaths to 218.
The Scottish Government said 3,345 people had now tested positive for the virus.
As of yesterday, there have been 41,903 confirmed cases of Covid-19 across the UK.
A total of 4,313 people are known to have died from the virus.
A Scottish Government spokesman said on Saturday: ‘Since this start of this epidemic, the CMO has been working seven days a week preparing Scotland’s response.
‘She took the opportunity this weekend to check on a family home in Fife as she knows she will not be back again until the crisis is over.
‘She stayed overnight before returning to Edinburgh.
‘In line with guidance, she stayed within her own household group and observed social distancing with anyone she was in passing in the village.’
This afternoon, Police Scotland issued a statement from its Chief Constable, Iain Livingston.
In the statement, he said: ‘Local officers have visited Dr Calderwood and spoke about her actions, reiterated crucial advice and issued a warning about her future conduct, all of which she accepted.
‘The legal instructions on not leaving your home without a reasonable excuse apply to everyone.
Police Scotland has issued a statement from its Chief Constable Iain Livingstone on Twitter today. In the statement, Mr Livingston said Dr Calderwood had been warned by officers
‘Social distancing is the key intervention to curtail the spread of coronavirus and it is essential the instructions are followed to protect each other, support key workers, take strain from the NHS, and save lives.
‘Individuals must not make personal exemptions bespoke to their own circumstances. It is vital that everyone adheres to these requirements.
‘Police officers and staff are putting themselves in harm’s way day and night to explain these instructions to our communities, encourage co-operation and, where necessary, enforce them.
‘I want to thank the overwhelming majority of people across the country who are doing their duty during this public health emergency.
‘Our fellow citizens are observing the guidance and making significant sacrifices and changes to their lifestyles and daily routines.
‘I am grateful for their continued support and co-operation during this critical period.’