A HELENSBURGH care home has become one of the first in Scotland to introduce ‘lateral flow testing’ for Covid-19 as the fight against the disease gathers pace.

Northwood House in Sinclair Street was set to begin testing visitors and health and social care staff at the end of last week.

The test –which can be carried out far more quickly than previous testing regimes – can be used to check if a person is infectious for Covid-19, even if they are not displaying symptoms.

The sample does not need to go to a laboratory to be analysed, and a test result is usually available within 30 minutes.

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Care homes in Rothesay and Ardrishaig are also piloting the test as the Argyll and Bute health and social care partnership (HSCP) becomes an “early adopter area” for the Scottish Government’s roll-out of the much quicker Covid tests.

Northwood House manager Annette Gillies said the introduction of the new test would allow close family members from outside of Helensburgh’s Tier 2 coronavirus restrictions to resume visits to residents.

Visits from family members who already live in Tier 2 areas such as Argyll and Bute are already permitted under specific guidance which applies to the care home sector.

And the piloting of the new test isn’t the only reason for optimism – with Annette revealing that Northwood is hoping to receive its first supplies of the new Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine before Christmas.

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“Our nurses had training two weeks ago and we received our testing packs last Friday,” Annette said, “but we didn’t get full guidance on their use until last week.

“We will still have to be cautious, and we will strictly follow all the guidance.

“But the major thing for us is that our residents who have family members living outside of Tier 2 will now be able to have visits again, as long as their visitors don’t test positive.

“It’s also looking as if we will get the vaccine soon. We’ll know our dates in the net few days, and I’m hoping it will be before Christmas.

“It’s definitely cause for cautious optimism.”

Trained staff will carry out the test when visitors arrive at the facility. Anyone who tests positive will not be admitted and will be advised to self-isolate and book a test.

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A spokesperson for the HSCP said: “The introduction of lateral flow testing is really good news for residents.

“At the same time it is important that visitors follow the relevant Scottish Government guidance for visiting and that they still wear the appropriate PPE.”

The HSCP is hoping to see lateral flow testing introduced at all Argyll and Bute care homes, including those in Helensburgh and Lomond, from December 14.

The Advertiser reported in May on the deaths of four Northwood House residents after they tested positive for Covid-19.

Meanwhile, four more people have died in Argyll and Bute after testing positive for Covid-19, according to the latest figures released by the National Records of Scotland.

The total number of Covid deaths in the area now stands at 77.

The latest figures apply for the week up to Sunday, December 6.

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