Mrs Cawkwell, 63, was discharged from hospital on 2 January 2021 after treatment for Covid-19. The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) attended her home on 7 January due to concerns about low oxygen saturation levels. She was not taken to hospital.
Her condition subsequently deteriorated, and she was admitted to hospital on 14 January before dying on 17 January 2021.
Mr Singh, aged 34, tested positive for Covid-19 in June 2021. SAS attended his home on 5 July 2021 after concerns about breathing difficulties and low oxygen saturation levels. He was not taken to hospital.
On 6 July 2021 he collapsed at home. Emergency crews attended and resuscitation efforts were undertaken, but he was pronounced dead later that evening.
A preliminary hearing is set for 21 September 2026 at Falkirk Sheriff Court.
The purpose of a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) includes determining the cause of death; the circumstances in which the deaths occurred, and to establish what, if any, reasonable precautions could have been taken, and could be implemented in the future, to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.
It is anticipated the focus of the FAI will be on the assessment and treatment of Mrs Cawkwell and Mr Singh and the systems and procedures in place within the Scottish Ambulance Service for assessing Covid-19 patients and determining whether escalation to hospital admission was required.
Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature, and are used to establish facts rather than to apportion blame.
Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for COPFS, said:
“The Lord Advocate considers that the deaths of Margaret Cawkwell and Shivraj Partab Singh occurred in circumstances giving rise to serious public concern and as such a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry should be held.
“An FAI will allow a full public airing of the evidence of the procurator fiscal’s wider investigations with interested parties. The evidence will be tested in a public setting and be the subject of an independent judicial determination.”
Further information
For more information on Fatal Accident Inquiries, see the Crown’s guide