NHS Lothian has announced a further expansion of its COVID-19 staff and health and social care worker testing. The developments, which include opening a new test facility at West Lothian College, will provide additional options for accessing coronavirus (COVID-19) testing.
To date, over 2,300 tests have been carried at the Chalmers Sexual Health Centre in Edinburgh providing reassurance to staff, helping to reduce unnecessary absence and bolstering frontline services.
Chalmers and the new West Lothian facility both offer appointment based drive-through testing, where individuals remain in their vehicle as a nose and throat swab is taken.
Recognising that not everyone has access to a car, the service has worked to develop a number of additional options for access. This includes the ability to carry out appointment based bike-through and walk-through tests, as well as working with taxi providers to ensure staff can easily get to and from the test facilities.
This work means that if staff or health and social care workers, such as local authority care home staff or private sector carers have symptoms, they can be tested within the first 72 hours, and if negative, and appropriate, can be released from the requirement to isolate and return to work, and so can their household contacts.
The staff testing facility at Chalmers has been running since 26 March 2020 and has already provided a huge amount of information enabling NHS Lothian to expand and develop the service.
Dr. Alastair Leckie, Director of Occupational Health Services, NHS Lothian said, that the teams have gained an enormous amount of practical knowledge and statistics, as well as insight from those who have accessed the service, all of which has been used to help shape these new developments.
He said, “Our staff have told us time and time again that they want to be at work, helping patients and supporting colleagues. Testing provides reassurance for staff, it helps to get them back to work quicker, and reduces unnecessary periods of self-isolation.
“A monumental amount of work has been done in a short period of time to further expand our testing facilities, ensuring that we not only have more test sites, but that there are a range of options available in how staff can access these.
“I am incredibly proud of the work that has already been done, and which will continue in the days, weeks and months ahead, as together we continue to respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.”
While the Chalmers service was initially developed to support with NHS staff testing, since 5 April it has also offered testing for health and social care staff working within the four immediate Health and Social Care Partnerships, as well as those employed by private care providers.
Allister Short, Chief Officer, West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership said that not being able to access testing had been a huge concern and worry for health and social care staff who wanted to be at work supporting and caring for people.
He said, “It is great that the NHS Lothian testing facilities are available for health and social care staff. It not only helps to protect vulnerable service users and care home residents, but also reduces periods of unnecessary self-isolation for our staff.”
Jackie Galbraith, Principal of West Lothian College said, “Since the start of the lockdown staff and students at West Lothian College have been working hard to help the NHS and key workers tackle the coronavirus.
“We donated all of our personal protective equipment to key workers, gave all of our food stock to local charities, and are working with partners to produce and distribute visors to frontline workers.
“Some of our staff and students have returned as practitioners to the health and social care sector, while others are volunteering to help people in need in local communities.
“With the launch of the new NHS COVID-19 testing station now our campus is being put to good use while college buildings remain closed to students and staff. We are very proud to play a part in reducing the impact of this pandemic.”
Dr Tracey Gillies, Medical Director, NHS Lothian, said around 100 tests were currently being carried out every day at the Chalmers site and of those around 80 per cent had already tested negative for COVID-19.
She added: “Providing access to testing for NHS and health and social care staff is critical. It not only gives reassurance, but enables these staff, if they feel well enough, to return to work.
“I would like to say a big thank you to all of the teams that have worked together to enable these testing developments to happen. This work is just one example of how NHS Lothian is responding to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but it encapsulates and illustrates the drive, determination, responsiveness and hard work that all our staff are demonstrating on a daily basis.”
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