Increase in COVID testing capacity in the Western Isles

COVID testing capacity in the Western Isles will be significantly increased for the next week, with the arrival of a Mobile Testing unit (MTU) from the mainland, to support the recent significant increase in test requests on Lewis.   

NHS Western Isles recently requested the assistance of a MTU and it will be operational in Lewis from tomorrow (Thursday) for one week. The unit will be staffed by Scottish Ambulance Service personnel and testing will strictly be by appointment only at present.   

The Mobile Testing Unit will help relieve current pressure in the local testing and laboratory services, arising from an unprecedented increase in test requests on Lewis, resulting from rising COVID case numbers. There is, at present, no increased demand for testing on other islands.   

With this welcome expansion in testing capability, NHS Western Isles continues to strongly encourage anyone with new symptoms of concern to continue to self-isolate and arrange a test.   

All COVID tests (including all tests for the MTU) will be arranged via the same route (by calling the COVID testing team on 01851 601 151 or emailing wi.covid19queries@nhs.scot). NHS Western Isles staff will coordinate the arrangement of tests to the appropriate testing service once a request has been made for a test. All individuals requesting a test will be provided with an appointment date, time and testing site. The MTU testing will strictly be by appointment only at present.   

High priority tests – including pre-operative hospital patients, care home residents and staff, and those who are symptomatic and ‘high risk’ – will continue to be tested via the current testing routes, through to the local laboratory. Tests requests from Uist, Barra and Harris will also continue to be managed through the established local process.   

Those who are asymptomatic and those who are considered to be at lower risk will be given an appointment at the Mobile Testing Unit for a drive through test. These tests will be sent off island for processing every day and test results will be expected within 48 hours.  

Test results from tests carried out via the MTU will be communicated directly back to individuals by text or email, depending on the preferred contact method provided. NHS Western Isles Test and Protect staff will then follow up on any positive tests with a phone call to carry out contact tracing and to provide advice.    

NHS Western Isles would like to thank our local communities for their patience in particular over the past week as there have been unfortunate delays in accessing testing and in receiving test results, as a result of the recent significant demand. We appreciate your understanding and apologise for the inconvenience that this has caused to individuals. The additional capacity provided by the Mobile Testing Unit will help speed up both test requests and the provision of test results.