Question reference: S6W-05722
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 14 January 2022
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 28 January 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is in place for people who live independently but who do not have the capacity to administer COVID-19 lateral flow tests themselves.
Answer
Those who experience difficulties carrying out a LFD test can ask someone they trust to assist them with the swabbing and testing process. Walk-in asymptomatic test sites (ATS) can advise people how to use an LFD test. After self-swabbing, the person hands their used swab to a site operative for it to be analysed.
Where a person is part of a workplace testing scheme and is not able to self-swab, if they have capacity to consent, they should be asked if they will allow someone to help them do the test, or to allow someone to do the test for them. Each case should be assessed on a case-by-case basis and if required, the Personal Assistant or family member can consult their GP in case specific care is required to swab the person.
People identified as contacts of a case who are unable or do not have the support to carry out LFD testing can call the National Contact Tracing Centre on 0800 030 8012, for advice.
Regular testing for people without symptoms is voluntary and for some people with additional support needs it may not be appropriate for testing to take place. Those working most closely with individuals with additional support needs, will be best placed to decide whether testing will be appropriate, taking into consideration the needs of the individual.