North teacher 'in shock' over Covid testing saga
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A THURSO school teacher said she was "in shock" after the problems she experienced in getting a Covid-19 test.
Lorraine Geddes, who teaches at Mount Pleasant Primary School, said she booked a coronavirus test after she started coughing last Saturday night. "I decided to book a home test for Covid as I knew the Thurso testing station had left," she said.
"The online site took all my details and the very last question – which should have been the first – was 'what is your address?'.
Lorraine claims she was then told that no home tests were available. "I was in shock. I am a teacher and as such we were told we would be prioritised for testing."
When she went back on to the website to book into a testing facility, the only options available were Inverness, Banchory and Forfar, she claimed.
"There is no way you could safely stay isolated on a trip up and down to Inverness as toilet stops are needed. Also, as I have back problems, I need to get out to walk for 30 minutes every hour.
Lorraine said her condition worsened and she developed "a raging temperature" along with the cough – symptoms commonly associated with coronavirus infection.
"This was a joke. I tried again on Sunday morning and the same thing happened. We decided to phone the helpline, they said 'Highland is a problem'."
Following guidance from the helpline, she called at 8pm and was told to call again in two hours. When she eventually got through she was given the email address of her head teacher and told to contact her to see if she could help.
"Lots of people kept saying the test centre run by the army was back on Monday so why did they not offer me this? On Monday morning, I tried again and still no home tests. Surely, they would be the most practical in the remote Highlands."
Lorraine said she was eventually able to book a test in Thurso but the covid testing centre "was mobbed" with around 20 cars when she arrived.
"The soldiers were all very efficient but totally not expecting all the cars [so they] opened early to get started. Why is this happening? This is not a new system."
She thinks that the stress involved in booking a test may well have put many people off and said that few people would relish "a drive of five or six hours" to get tested.
Lorraine added: "I have since had a negative Covid result but it does not fill me with much hope for getting another if I need one."
A NHS spokesperson said: "We are aware that some people living in rural and island areas are having difficulty with home testing kits. We are continuing to try and find a solution and are working with both the Scottish and UK Governments to resolve this."
Speaking today, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The increased demand on test centres this week has been well reported and we would like to thank people, who have experienced delays in booking a test or receiving their results, for their patience. We’re aware some people have been offered testing far from home, and can confirm that this technical issue is being resolved.
“We are also taking a number of steps to increase the availability and accessibility of Covid-19 tests. Eleven walk through testing sites are planned to be up and running before winter, and we are working closely with the NHS and local authorities to locate these in locations easily accessible by bike, wheel or foot across Scotland.
“It is important we remain flexible in our deployment of testing capacity so we can remain responsive to local needs as Covid-19 cases occur. That is why we have Mobile Testing Units, which visit different parts of the country on a regular basis to give people local access to testing in-person.
“We have been engaging with the UK Government on a daily basis to monitor the situation closely due to the high levels of demand on test centres in Scotland this week and are deploying an increased number of mobile testing units to help meet demand.
“Alternatively, home test kits are available through the UK Expanded Testing Programme and can be booked via the UK online digital portal, and are an option where people seeking a test are unable to attend a fixed drive-through centre or mobile testing unit. As with all Covid-19 related measures, we will continue to keep access to testing under regular review."
For information on getting a test in Scotland visit www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested/pages/overview/
System for testing children is shambolic and chaotic, say Caithness family
