Question reference: S5W-33385
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 19 November 2020
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on routine COVID-19 testing for NHS staff.
Answer
As I outlined to Parliament on 25 th November, and in line with clinical and public health priorities identified through the review of our testing strategy, twice weekly testing will be offered to all patient-facing NHS staff in our hospitals, Scottish Ambulance Service, Covid Assessment Centres in the community and to healthcare professionals who visit care homes. Details of the testing strategy review can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-review-of-testing-strategy-october-2020/ .
The scale of this challenge should not be underestimated, NHS Scotland employs more than 170,000 people and although not all are in patient facing roles, a considerable number are. We know that front-line NHS staff are at highest risk of being exposed to COVID-19 and as community transmission rises so, too does the risk of hospital outbreaks. A phased roll out will therefore start at the beginning of December, to be completed by the end of December.
Testing is only one measure of protection against COVID-19, alongside a strong emphasis on robust infection prevention and control measures, including the use of PPE, the extended use of face masks, physical distancing and good hygiene.