Commenting on today’s Scottish Government COVD-19 briefing, which focused largely on testing, Theresa Fyffe, RCN Scotland Director, said:
“It’s a positive step that COVID-19 testing for residents and nursing staff in Scotland’s care homes is to be increased. They’ve been amongst the hardest hit in our communities by COVID-19. Efforts to protect residents and staff and contain outbreaks effectively, must rely on robust data about who has and does not have the virus, regardless of whether or not they have any symptoms.
“But the RCN would like to see the Scottish government go faster and further on testing in general. Regular testing of health and care workers and the people they are caring for, even if they have no symptoms, is needed.
“Health and care staff need to understand the options available to them for testing. Findings from a recent survey by RCN Scotland about testing showed that 43% of staff did not know how to access testing.
“While, the survey showed that 96% of staff who had been offered testing had no problem with access, we are clear that more work is needed to make testing as accessible as possible for all health and care staff, regardless of geography, in hospitals, and the community.
“The government must ensure that health and care staff are clear about how to access testing, particularly those out-with the NHS, and develop a plan for regular testing of all health and care workers.”
