New guidance on Covid-19 testing has been issued by the Scottish Government for family and friends visiting a loved one in care homes.
NHS Lanarkshire is now calling on all visitors to follow the guidance to help keep residents, staff and other visitors safe.
The Scottish Government now recommends that visitors undertake lateral flow device (LFD) testing, also known as rapid tests, before visiting a care home. This can be done at home or at the care home.
Visitors are advised to contact the care home to confirm where they should carry out their test. If the care home requests that visitors undertake the test at the care home at the start of the visit timings and arrangements should be confirmed with the care home.
The care home may be happy for visitors to do a test in their own home on the day of a visit. If testing at home, visitors will need access to a smartphone or tablet to register their result online. The care home may ask for proof of a negative test.
Trudi Marshall, Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire nurse director, said: “Regular testing using LFDs is important as it plays an important role in helping us to find positive cases in people who have no symptoms, but who are still infectious.
“Testing at your home or at the care home should be done on the day of the visit. If you are a regular visitor to the care home each week you may test twice weekly rather than each time. The care home will advise on this.
“If you are testing at home, you will receive confirmation of the result by text message and email to show proof of your result. The care home may ask to see this proof of a negative test result before visiting.
“If you do not have access to a smartphone or tablet, you may be asked to take the test on site at the care home.
“Please remember that each care home has different circumstances to take into account. It is important that you follow their guidelines to ensure the safety of loved ones, other residents, staff and visitors while we continue to fight this global pandemic.
“As always, please do not visit a care home if you feel unwell.”
Information on how to order LFD tests is available on the Scottish Government’s website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested/pages/no-covid-symptoms/.
LFD test kits can be ordered online for home delivery or they can be collected from the Covid-19 testing centres in the afternoon or early evening. Alternatively, ring 119 or pick up tests from local pharmacies. Detailed instructions are included with the test kit.
It is important that test results are recorded at: https://nhsnss.service-now.com/covidtesting. This will support NHS Test and Protect and public health teams to help care homes to understand the transmission of Covid-19 and prevent further outbreaks.
