‘Drive-through’ coronavirus testing introduced for NHS Lothian

Testing arrangements for coronavirus are being expanded across Scotland to include ‘drive-through’ testing introduced for NHS Lothian.

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

Other boards in Scotland 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.

Testing arrangements across the rest of Scotland are as follows:

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.

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.

NHS medical director, Professor Stephen Powis, said:

“The NHS is working hard to prepare for possible service impacts and services across the country are putting in place pragmatic, inventive and safe measures to help people get tested for coronavirus.

“It’s important that anyone who is worried about symptoms of the virus, or who has travelled to affected areas, uses NHS 111 to get advice, and as we continue to manage the outbreak – and as more people may need to self-isolate – our NHS staff will help people to deal with the virus calmly and professionally.”