Testing arrangements expanded for coronavirus

Testing arrangements for coronavirus are being expanded across Scotland.

Health boards are implementing a range of different methods for people in their areas to access coronavirus testing.

This ranges from testing in contained areas at local health centres, to community testing in the home, and ‘drive-through’ testing in some areas.

NHS Lothian is the latest health board to introduce ‘drive through’ testing, where patients with mild symptoms drive themselves to a contained area of the hospital for testing, enabling them to avoid public transport or walking.

Other boards are running community testing, which allows people to be tested in their own home where appropriate. This involves staff from public health teams attending people’s homes in protective suits to provide testing, and offer advice to anyone displaying symptoms. It follows the introduction of specialised coronavirus screening laboratories in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said:

“Although all test results have come back negative so far, it is only a matter of time before there is a positive case in Scotland. 

“Our priority is to ensure testing facilities are available across Scotland, so we have asked health boards to explore options for people in their area depending on their needs. Methods of testing will be different depending on factors like population and geography.

“Scotland is well-prepared to deal with coronavirus. We need the public to help contain spread by keeping themselves informed of the latest health and travel advice, and taking basic hygiene precautions such as hand-washing, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and binning the tissue straight away. 

Background

NHS England news release on drive through testing

Testing arrangements

NHS Ayrshire & Arran

Contained testing at a healthcare facility.

NHS Grampian

Drive-through testing at a healthcare facility with plans to expand into community testing.

NHS Orkney

Contained testing at a healthcare facility on-site and community testing in place.

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

Contained testing at a healthcare facility on-site and community testing in place.

NHS Lanarkshire

Community testing team in place.

NHS Tayside

Contained testing at a healthcare facility and plans to expand into community testing.

NHS Fife

Community testing team in place.

NHS Forth Valley

Contained testing at a healthcare facility and plans to expand into community testing.

NHS Highland

Contained testing at a healthcare facility and plans to expand into community testing.

NHS Shetland

Contained testing at a healthcare facility.

NHS Western Isles

Community testing team in place.

NHS Dumfries & Galloway

Contained testing at a healthcare facility on-site and community testing in place.