Drive thru coronavirus test centre launches in Fife

Health bosses at NHS Fife have added the drive thu facility at Cameron Hospital as part of its plan to monitor any cases of coronavirus.

They expect a sharp rise in the number of people needing tests in the coming weeks.

The new mobile centre will supplement the work of the mobile testing team, which, over the past three weeks, has been checking patients in their own homes.

NHS Fife was one of the earliest adopters of the community mobile testing model.

Dr Esther Curnock, deputy director of public health, D, said: “We have has well-rehearsed procedures in place to deal with the potential of communicable viruses such as coronavirus.

“Over recent weeks we have seen a steady rise in the numbers of people requiring testing for coronavirus and we anticipate a sharper increase over the coming weeks. It’s crucial that we can continue to test those meeting the criteria in a timely way and so we are now increasing the testing capacity we have available.

“The vast majority of those tested in recent weeks show little or no symptoms of the virus, and so are suitably able to drive to our testing facility. Our mobile testing team will, however, continue to operate in the same manner as it has done previously to test those unable to make their own way to our testing site.

“Crucially, only those who have been assessed by a GP over the phone and given an appointment by Public Health should present at our testing site. Those presenting without an appointment will not be seen.”

NHS Fife is working with Scottish Government and colleagues nationally to ensure it is well prepared to manage any cases of coronavirus.

The criteria for testing is available on NHS Inform. It is important that anyone who meets this criteria does not visit their doctor or any healthcare facility, and should instead call their GP or NHS24 on 111, even if they have mild symptoms are no symptoms at all.

The NHS Inform website has the most up-to-date information HERE: https://www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus