Question reference: S6W-00500
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 4 June 2021
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 June 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that people who are required to report the results of COVID-19 lateral flow tests, so that the NHS can monitor the spread of the virus, support communities across the UK and tackle the virus, will not have to pay for the cost of their calls, in light of this being the practice in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Answer
The 119 Freephone COVID testing helpline was made available to callers from Scotland on Friday 23 April 2021. The 119 Freephone service provides callers the option to report lateral flow device (LFD) test results, and can also be used to:
- order LFD test kits for home delivery
- provide support when booking a PCR test
- report test kit problems
- provide translation services
This number will run alongside the original 0300 303 2713 helpline number (which charges from some networks) until further notice. Both numbers reach the same call handlers.
LFD test results can also be reported online at GOV.UK. Reporting LFD tests results online or via the 119 service helps us to find community outbreaks, understand infection rates across Scotland and enable contact tracing.