Weekly covid tests for more Scottish health and care staff

The range of workers entitled to weekly coronavirus testing will be extended in July.
Regular tests will continue in a bid to protect NHS employees and patients by reducing the spread of the virus. In addition, all hospital and care home staff will be required to wear masks throughout their shifts, as will anyone entering these buildings. Photo: John DevlinRegular tests will continue in a bid to protect NHS employees and patients by reducing the spread of the virus. In addition, all hospital and care home staff will be required to wear masks throughout their shifts, as will anyone entering these buildings. Photo: John Devlin
Regular tests will continue in a bid to protect NHS employees and patients by reducing the spread of the virus. In addition, all hospital and care home staff will be required to wear masks throughout their shifts, as will anyone entering these buildings. Photo: John Devlin

From Wednesday, July 8, cancer specialists, people working in long-term elderly care and residential mental health workers will join care home staff in eligibility for regular tests in a bid to protect NHS employees and patients by reducing the spread of the virus.

Also, from Monday, June 29, all hospital and care home staff will be required to wear masks throughout their shifts, as will anyone entering these buildings.

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These are just some of the safety measures being brought in as Scotland’s NHS begins to resume community and hospital services which were paused by the pandemic.

Health secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Throughout the pandemic NHS Scotland has remained open, delivering emergency services and vital care. As the NHS prepares to safely resume more services, it is vitally important that we continue with rigorous infection prevention and control practices to minimise the spread of the virus in any health and social care setting, and are aligned with the growing evidence on this virus and how it is transmitted.

“I am bringing forward a range of actions to strengthen these practices, in line with advice from clinical experts. This includes regular testing of all hospital staff working in specialist cancer services, as well as those who provide long-term care for the elderly, and those working in long-stay mental health facilities.

“This new guidance will also ensure all staff in hospitals and care homes who interact with patients or residents will be required to wear a medical face mask throughout their shift – for the protection of those they care for, their colleagues and themselves.

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“Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) paused their inspection work in March to allow local infection prevention and control teams to concentrate on tackling the virus.

“However, the time is now right for inspections to resume. The Chief Nursing Officer has asked HIS to develop plans to take this forward safely, and we expect inspections to re-start at the end of June.”

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