Rapid coronavirus testing to be rolled out at Parklands Care Homes sites in the Highlands; its homes include one in Muir of Ord and another which is nearing completion in Fortrose on the Black Isle
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
RAPID Covid testing is set to be rolled out at several Highland care homes in a bid to protect residents and staff.
Parklands Care Homes, which runs a site in Muir of Ord and is currently building a multi-million pound home in Fortrose, says it has spent more than £100,000 on the new rapid testing technology.
It also operates sites at Tain and Grantown-on-Spey, as well as some in Moray and Aberdeenshire and has plans to begin construction on an Inverness home in 2021.
Developed by medical equipment manufacturer LumiraDX, the new rapid tests can provide results within 12 minutes.
And Parklands says this will enable "care staff to quickly implement quarantine procedures in the event of a positive result".
The tests use a nasal swab specimen from people showing symptoms of Covid, which are then analysed using a portable machine.
Parklands is buying five mobile test units which can be quickly deployed at any of its care homes. Specially trained nurses and care managers will carry out and process the tests.
Initially, 1200 test kits will be ordered with more expected in January and March next year.
It added that the new system will complement existing NHS Scotland procedures and run in parallel to them.
Parklands Care Homes' managing director, Ron Taylor, said: “This technology will give us results within minutes, rather than hours or days. That gives us a huge advantage in terms of our ability to respond to any potential positive results, should they occur.
"Of course, it is not a substitute for robust infection prevention and control procedures. Keeping the virus at bay remains our primary objective at all times. However, the ability to test symptomatic residents or staff in real time is a significant step forward and will give peace of mind to residents, families and our hard working staff.
“Our investment will also help alleviate some of the pressure on our NHS Scotland colleagues. Our existing test arrangements with NHS Scotland, which sees staff tested weekly, will continue as normal. However, by enabling us to carry out our own rapid tests, we can ease some of the pressure on the NHS and, more importantly, implement quarantine procedures much more rapidly.”
He added: “This is a significant investment by Parklands but it is one that we felt was absolutely necessary to safeguard our residents and staff. In almost 30 years working in the care sector, I cannot think of a more challenging time for the sector. Equally, I have never been more proud of the team at Parklands who continue to work round the clock to protect our residents.”
Parklands expects the new rapid test system to be in place by early November. The in-house testing will only be carried out as and when required – for example, where a resident or staff member is showing symptoms consistent with Covid-19 and where a rapid result would enable quarantine procedures to be implemented at an earlier stage.
The launch of the new system comes as Parklands publishes its Covid Charter which sets out its response to the pandemic. You can read the charter here .
Related articles: Highland company scoops two awards at this year's national Care Home Awards, beating six other finalists
Related articles: Black Isle pre-school secures £1000 from Parklands Care Homes to create accessible garden
