New UK Government Covid testing site opens in Inverclyde
Located at Crawfurdsburn Community Centre in Greenock, the site is easily accessible for people without a car.
The UK Government has today [Thursday 22 October], opened a new walk-through coronavirus testing centre in Inverclyde.
Located at Crawfurdsburn Community Centre in Greenock, the site is easily accessible for people without a car.
The new facility is being provided by the UK Government as part of a UK-wide drive to continue to improve the accessibility of coronavirus testing for local communities. It is operated by Mitie on behalf of the UK Government.
The test centre is part of the largest network of diagnostic testing facilities created in British history. In Scotland, this comprises of six drive-through sites, ten walk-through sites, 21 mobile units, plus the Glasgow Lighthouse Lab which is working round the clock to process samples.
In Scotland, the UK Government is providing all Covid testing and test processing outside of the NHS. Around two-thirds of all daily tests are provided by the UK Government, in support of Scotland’s health services.
Tests must be booked in advance at NHS Inform or by calling 0800 028 2816. People should only book a test if they have coronavirus symptoms (a high temperature, a new and continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste).
Health Minister, Lord Bethell, said:
We continue to expand UK Government testing to make sure that everyone with symptoms can get a test, with our new walk-in sites making it even easier no matter where you live.
This new site forms part of our UK testing network, which has the capacity to test more than a million people a week and is growing all the time.
If you have symptoms of coronavirus, I urge you to book a test today, and follow the advice of contact tracers if you are contacted to protect others around you and stop the spread of the virus.
This is a UK-wide effort and we are proud to be working with a number of partners to turn this ambition into a reality and roll out additional capacity to where it is needed.
Baroness Dido Harding, Interim Executive Chair of the National Institute for Health Protection, said:
The UK Government’s new walk-through sites offer communities better access to coronavirus testing, so everyone with symptoms can get a test. This new site is part of our ongoing work to expand testing across the UK to deliver 500,000 tests a day by the end of October.
Please book a test if you have coronavirus symptoms: a new continuous cough, a high temperature and a loss or change in sense of smell or taste.
Everybody should continue to think hands, face, space, and follow the advice of contact tracers if you are contacted – this is the only way we can return to a more normal way of life.
UK Government Minister for Scotland, Iain Stewart, said:
The UK Government is helping all parts of the UK fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Testing is vital, helping to manage local outbreaks and protecting people’s livelihoods. The UK Government is providing the bulk of Covid testing in Scotland, and this new walk-through centre is just the latest in our extensive testing network.
We are pleased to be working with local and commercial partners. These sites are not possible without the hard work of many people. I would like to thank everyone involved for their incredible efforts for the good of the country at this difficult time.
Councillor Robert Moran, Inverclyde Council’s convener of Health and Social Care, said:
We made the case for increased testing in our community and we are pleased that a new testing centre has been set up in Greenock.
Inverclyde has been hit hard by Covid-19 and this facility, in addition to the test sites at Port Glasgow and Glasgow Airport, provides us with greater resilience and capacity to fight the virus.
The location at Crawfurdsburn Community Centre provides an accessible site for the local community to take a test in their local area.
Simon Venn, Mitie Chief Government & Strategy Officer, said:
Our priority during the pandemic is to support the nation’s efforts to fight COVID-19 and help keep the country running. Testing is a critical part of the UK’s strategy to combat coronavirus and we’re proud to support the UK Government with this vital task.
A big thank you to all the NHS staff, Mitie employees and other frontline heroes in Inverclyde, who are working tirelessly to keep us all safe.
NOTES TO EDITORS
The UK Government is providing the following test facilities in Scotland:
Six drive through testing sites:
- Prestwick Airport
- Glasgow Airport
- Edinburgh Airport
- Aberdeen Airport
- Inverness (University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness campus)
- Dundee Dudhope Castle car park
Setting up 22 walk through centres in town and cities across Scotland. Nine of these are already open, with the rest to come soon.
Currently open:
- St Andrews (Victory Memorial Hall)
- Glasgow (ARC sports centre, Glasgow Caledonian University)
- Aberdeen (Roy Strathdee building, Aberdeen University)
- Edinburgh (Usher Hall)
- Glasgow West (Riverside car park)
- West Dunbartonshire (Napier Hall, Old Kilpatrick)
- Stirling (The Engine Shed)
- Dundee (Park Place car park)
- Edinburgh West (55 Gate, Sighthill)
- Inverclyde (Crawfurdsburn Community Centre, Greenock)
To open soon:
- Inverness
- Edinburgh North
Funding the operation of 21 mobile testing units throughout Scotland.
The UK Government is also funding the Glasgow Lighthouse Lab (operated on our behalf by Glasgow University). It is part of a network of Lighthouse Labs across the UK mass processing covid tests. We are also using commercial labs to create extra capacity.
Further information for those seeking a test:
- Tests must be booked in advance at: NHS Inform or by calling 0800 028 2816.
- People should only book a test if they have coronavirus symptoms (a high temperature, a new and continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste) or have been told to seek a test by a clinician or an NHS tracer.
- People travelling to and from the test centre must NOT use taxis or public transport.
- People should wear a face covering while travelling to and from the test centre, and while in the centre.
- Tests in this centre are self-administered. This involves taking a swab of the nose and the back of the throat. The process is simple, only takes a few minutes, and full instructions are provided. Staff are on hand to provide additional support for vulnerable people and those with disabilities.
- The centre will operate seven days a week, with appointments available from 8am to 8pm.
- Anyone testing positive will be contacted by NHS Scotland tracers. They will help them identify those they have been in contact with, protecting others from further transmission. Close contacts of those testing positive will also hear from contact tracers, asking them to stay at home for 14 days to prevent them from unknowingly spreading the virus. They will be advised to also book a test if they develop symptoms.