It is important to note that there have again been changes to who can access the testing programme announced by the Scottish Government. This now provides for weekly testing for all of our care home staff, whether or not symptomatic, and extends testing to everyone over 5 with symptoms .
Home care and other front line staff are in priority groups for testing, so if you are in these groups and have symptoms or have been close to anyone who has symptoms you can now ask to be tested.
The National Director for Testing, Wendy Wilkinson, joined the Workforce Issues Group meeting on Thursday 21st May to give an update on testing. She confirmed that anyone with symptoms over the age of 5 years old can now get a test and that routine weekly testing in care homes will commence.
Further information on the expansion to the testing program can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/
And the interim guidance on COVID-19 PCR testing in care homes and the management of COVID-19 PCR test positive residents and staff can be found here; https://hpspubsrepo.blob.core.
As of 18 May only 34% of social care staff had been tested so please ensure that if you are in one of the above groups, you go and get tested. (see https://www.gov.scot/
UNISON pressed her whether routine testing would be expanded to the rest of the workforce and she said there were no current plans to do so.
Tests can be requested by completing this form and returning it to this email address.
Please be aware that the form cannot be accessed on a mobile phone that is not word enabled, it can only be accessed via a computer, laptop or tablet. If employees require assistance accessing the form they can contact Aberdeenshire Council’s Occupational Health Nurse derrick.strong@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or on 01467 533223 who can complete the form with them over the phone and submit on their behalf.
Results will be provided to the individual who has had the test via telephone call or text message. After submitting the form you should be contacted within 24 hours by NHS Grampian and should receive your test results 24 hours after having the test.
Employees must inform their line manager that they have requested a test and notify them of the outcome. Line Managers must update the employees record of absence on iTrent immediately when they are notified of the result by the employee.
For further information go to this webpage.