NHS GGC have confirmed that testing is now available for frontline NHS employees and HSCP social care key workers, who are self-isolating as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or symptoms of a household member.
This key development will determine whether self-isolation is necessary or whether the employee, if well, is able to return to work.
Testing is through an appointment based system and a referral process is in place through line management, via an electronic referral form. If you are self-isolating and need to request a referral, you should raise this with your line manager immediately.
We have produced the attached FAQs to provide more detail on this process. You can also find further information on the NHS GGC website:
Thank you
Ann Davie
Depute Chief Executive, Education, People & Business
24 April 2020
COVD 19 - Key Worker Testing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FAQs published Friday 24 April 2020
Q I am an East Dunbartonshire employee working in Social Care – what testing is available?
NHSGGC are now providing Covid-19 testing for two groups:
A: household contacts of NHSGGC and Health and Social Care staff, who have Covid-19 symptoms (fever of ≥37.8 C or new persistent cough).
B: NHSGGC and Health and Social Care staff who are worried about having Covid-19 symptoms (fever of ≥37.8 C or new persistent cough) but feel well enough and would ordinarily continue to work.
Q How can I find out more about testing?
NHSGGC and Health and Social Care staff who are self-isolating due to their own symptoms (fever of ≥37.8 C or new persistent cough) or those of a household member should now be referred for testing via their line managers.
Your Line Manager will be required to complete the referral form on your behalf and will require the following information to do so:
- Date of birth
- Postcode
- Mobile phone number and email address (this should be for a parent/guardian if the person being tested is under 16 years old)
- Registration plate of the car that will be used to attend testing
Q Can I attend for testing without an appointment?
No, this is an appointment only system
Q Can my household contacts be tested?
Yes, a referral system is in place to arrange testing of the symptomatic household contacts of well health and social care workers.
This testing is provided to allow such workers to return to work, if the test for their household member comes back negative.
For the test to be accurate, the person should be between day 1 and day 5 of their symptoms at the time of testing.
Your line manager will refer your household member for testing using the e-referral form.
Please Note: Only people in the household with cough/fever need to be tested, not people who are well.
Q I am a line manager – how do I refer an employee in my team for testing?
If members of staff in your team inform you that they need to be off due to self-isolation because they have symptoms of Covid-19, or because someone else in their house has these symptoms, then please make a referral for testing.
NHSGGC aim to provide testing appointments in the following circumstances:
- A staff member with cough/fever, but who may be well enough to return to work if they do not have Covid-19.
- A staff member who is home-isolating for 14 days, because someone they live with has cough/fever – the unwell household member would be tested.
- The person to be tested has not been unwell for more than 5 days.
You will need to gather the following information from your staff member to allow you to complete the e-referral form:
- Date of birth
- Postcode
- Mobile phone number and email address (this should be for a parent/guardian if the person being tested is under 16 years old)
- Registration plate of the car that will be used to attend testing
Please take the time to check phone numbers as errors can result in delays in appointing or feeding back results.
Complete and submit the e-freferral form [opens in a new window]:
You will receive an acknowledgement email.
If there is a situation where the number of referrals exceeds testing capacity, then appointments would be allocated on the basis of service pressures
Q Where can I find out more information?
For more information on the testing processes as well as advice based on test results please visit the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde website [opens in a new window].
You can also contact your line manager or Leeanne Galasso, HR & OD Manager, on 6018121 (internally) or on 0141 578 8121 (externally) or by mobile on 07825 753 813.