(updated on Monday 11th May with testing information for those in Midlothian)
The Scottish Government has released further guidance on the availability of COVID-19 testing for key workers, including Personal Assistants.
https://www.gov.scot/news/testing-expansion/
Currently, LCiL are aware of specific guidance from some local authorities as to their procedures for offering COVID-19 testing to Personal Assistants. Please see below for details, along with details of key worker testing via the UK Government which is also relevant for Scotland.
Further updates from other local authorities LCiL supports service users in will be updated as we become aware of their procedures or any changes to their procedures.
Please note: this guidance on testing only applies to key-workers/PAs, not to PA employers.
For Personal Assistants in the City of Edinburgh Council area
Your employer should make a referral for testing the same day that you or a household member reports any symptoms. Testing is only valid in the first 24-72 hours of symptoms showing.
Referrals should be made via the Emergency Social Care Team on;
0800 731 6969
You should provide the name and contact details of the PA and the date when symptoms began showing.
The tests are carried out at a drive-through facility at the Chalmers (Sexual Health) Centre, 2a Chalmers St, Edinburgh EH3 9ES.
Personal Assistants must be able to drive to/be driven to the facility in a personal vehicle. No alternative transport is available at this time.
For Personal Assistants in the West Lothian Council area
Personal Assistant employers can request a COVID-19 test for their PAs within 72 hours of symptom onset. PAs can also make the request directly, on behalf of their employer, where required.
The document provided by West Lothian Council is an Excel spreadsheet which cannot be easily uploaded to our website and many people will not have Excel at home but you can, alternatively, email WLHSCPproviders@westlothian.gov.uk with the following information;
- Your name, as employer, and your address
- PA’s name, date of birth, their home address and mobile phone number
- The date their COVID-19 symptoms started
- If your PA lives with other people, they are also eligible for testing and you should provide the same information for them
The tests are carried out at two drive-through facilities; the Chalmers (Sexual Health) Centre, 2a Chalmers St, Edinburgh EH3 9ES and West Lothian College, Almondvale Crescent, Livingston EH54 7EP
Personal Assistants must be able to drive to/be driven to the facility in a personal vehicle. No alternative transport is available at this time.
For Personal Assistants in the East Lothian Council area
Personal Assistant employers can request a COVID-19 test for their PAs within 72 hours of symptom onset.
The employer will need to collect the names of the people to be tested, the date for the onset of symptoms for that person, and the contact telephone number for the person to be tested. This information should be emailed to;
OHenquiries@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
‘COVID-19 staff testing’ must be the subject line of the email.
Occupational health will contact the person to be tested to gather the necessary information and to organise an appointment for a test. They are unable to reply from this in-box so do not send any other queries to this email address.
The tests are carried out at a drive-through facility at the Chalmers (Sexual Health) Centre, 2a Chalmers St, Edinburgh EH3 9ES.
Personal Assistants must be able to drive to/be driven to the facility in a personal vehicle. No alternative transport is available at this time.
For Personal Assistants in the Midlothian Council area
Personal Assistants in the Midlothian Council area and their households can apply for testing if they have symptoms and should do so within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Testing can be applied for via; https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/
The nearest national testing centre is at Edinburgh Airport or there may be an option of attending a mobile testing unit at more local locations. It may also be possible to receive a home-test kit.
Once registered, the Personal Assistant will receive a text offering either an appointment at one of the testing sites or a home testing kit.
You can download Midlothian Health & Social Care Partnership’s guidance on testing here; Midlothian H&SCP PA testing for COVID-19 (PDF) Midlothian H&SCP PA testing for COVID-19 (Word)
For key/essential workers in other local authorities
If you’re an essential worker who is self-isolating (not able to leave home), you can now apply for you and your household to get tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) via the UK Government website. This also applies to Scotland and the nearest national testing centre is at Edinburgh Airport.
You can apply for testing via;