Local testing?

Couldn't testing just be done at your GPs? Then it'd be local, and "normal", for practically all. Outside if need be.

Why the contribution is important

Not really following why long car trips to airports etc for testing are how it's being done. Not convenient, not even possible for many, plus lots of otherwise unecessary travel. If not GPs, then local hospitals.

by davidcoffield on May 11, 2020 at 10:54AM

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Average rating: 5.0
Based on: 8 votes

Comments

  • Posted by sconnor May 11, 2020 at 12:32

    Local community halls, centres, etc should be used to create testing hubs for local individuals to attend by appointment. If the Scottish Government are serious about widespread testing and reaching 12,500 tests per day then this could easily be achieved through this method.

  • Posted by CathyBenson May 11, 2020 at 12:57

    SORRY, THERE WAS A TYPO IN THE PREVIOUS, COULD YOU POST THIS ONE INSTEAD?

    I absolutely agree with this and cannot begin to understand why it hasn't happened sooner - whether in GP's surgeries or some other kind of testing hub. I believe 40% of Scots (like myself) don't have cars; we can't take the airport bus if we are showing symptoms; and even those with cars may be too unwell to drive. It's really unclear how people CAN get tested, even if they are in one of the currently eligible categories.

  • Posted by AnKa May 11, 2020 at 19:17

    I have been wondering as well why testing can't be done locally by GP practices. If testing becomes a more permanent feature of monitoring and managing the spread of the virus, keeping it as local as possible would be the most accessible and the least wasteful of ressources I think. Especially in rural communities, the numbers that might need testing at any one day would probably be rather small and not overwhelm a GP practice or if it seems like this would be too much of a burden for a GP practice, maybe trained volunteers or other paid staff could help with doing the tests? As the other commenters have said, the advantages would be:
     - people without cars would be able to access a test
    - people who are ill possibly with Covid wouldn't have to drive (which could be dangerous with a fever anyway)
    - if you are the only adult in the house and have symptoms and are isolating, you can't drive 100 miles say to Inverness (home testing kits are in short supply) but if you are at home, maybe the person doing tests locally could meet you at your home outside if that is regarded safest.
    - if the test needs to be done within the first few days of having symptoms, the shorter the route to getting tested the better (in terms of registering for one and accessing it physically)
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