Scottish woman 'traumatised' as she says quarantine rules might mean she misses saying goodbye to dying dad
Claire Herriot feels the restrictions will seriously impact her mental health for years to come.
Last updated 29th Jul 2021
A Glasgow woman says 'cruel' and 'unfair' quarantine rules could stop her from saying goodbye to her dying dad.
Claire Herriot has flown in from Istanbul to visit the 75-year old, who is seriously ill with organ failure - but is currently having to isolate in a quarantine hotel in Edinburgh until 7 August.
She has so far only been allowed in to see him once - supervised by two security guards.
"I feel traumatised"
She told Forth 1: "Honestly, I feel traumatised. The death of a parent is difficult for anyone and it has just been made so much harder than it needs to be.
"I think the rules are cruel, arbitrary and logically indefensible.
"I don’t understand the reason why I cannot leave this facility, I meet the threshold, in my opinion, that remaining in this hotel quarantine is detrimental to my health.
"I don’t know how high the bar has to be for the Scottish government to understand in trying to access that support, I have found it very difficult and I think I am going to need professional help for years afterwards.
"The rules are cruel, arbitrary and logically indefensible."
"It’s traumatising and it doesn’t need to be this way."
She fears this will seriously impact on her mental health as she has been told she cannot see her father again until her quarantine ends on August 7th.
The Scottish Government's responded to Herriot saying they will do what they can to accommodate her through her time in the hotel.
We have contacted the Scottish Government for comment.