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NHS Orkney hopes to increase COVID-19 testing capability four-fold because it launches a brand new system aimed toward enhancing wait instances for outcomes.
An extension to opening hours on the COVID Evaluation Centre in Kirkwall, mixed with a drive-in self-testing system, is the well being authority’s response to what it has described because the “first sustained COVID-19 surge skilled regionally”.
Over 450 new circumstances of the virus have been attributed to Orkney through the previous month.
From this Tuesday, November 16, the COVID Evaluation Centre will now be open from:
Monday — Friday: 8.30am till 5pm.
Saturday and Sunday — 8.30am till 1pm.
NHS Orkney doesn’t anticipate these instances to vary, and these would be the new everlasting hours going ahead. To increase incoming name capability a brand new cellphone
quantity, 0300 303 9545, has been launched for the COVID Evaluation Centre, changing the present 888211 quantity.
This new quantity will stop earlier issues relating to calls dropping out of our system which was a results of the sheer quantity of calls that have been coming by way of the NHS Orkney switchboard.
The vaccination cellphone quantity will stay in place for all vaccination queries, which is 0300 303 5313.
Along with these modifications, to hurry up outcomes being returned NHS Orkney will now be flying samples out of Orkney as much as twice every day. These will likely be examined on the lighthouse lab in Glasgow and outcomes will likely be despatched to sufferers by tex, often inside 72 hours — however these can arrive sooner. NHS Orkney’s head of main care companies, Maureen Firth, has stated that almost all of checks will likely be now be processed this fashion throughout excessive quantity intervals just like the one we’re at present in.
Mrs Firth hopes that this new system will make sure that everybody who requests a check will obtain one the identical day.
She stated: “We’ve got tried to make sure we’re delivering the absolute best service to the group. We hope that by introducing this new cellphone quantity, everybody will have the ability to get by way of to us with none issues or main delays.
“We additionally hope the brand new means of testing will velocity up outcomes for these ready. As with every new process there could also be small modifications that we have to adapt additional but. We’ll come again and provides an replace in round two weeks to tell you of how issues are going.
“Lastly, our workers are working extraordinarily laborious by way of this primary main COVID surge right here regionally. We try to adapt and enhance our service for you our valued members of the group. We thanks a lot to your continued endurance and understanding throughout this time”
For these on ferry linked / outer isles the method stays the identical. These communities will proceed to request PCR checks through their native GP surgical procedures.
For these sufferers coming in for an elective process the method has not modified and this will likely be co-ordinated as a part of their process. These will likely be examined on the lighthouse lab in Glasgow and outcomes will likely be despatched to sufferers by textual content often inside 72 hours, however these can arrive sooner.
Should you develop COVID-19 signs, or obtain a optimistic lateral circulation end result you should self-isolate together with your family instantly. You and all members of your family ought to prepare a PCR check.
These with COVID signs or who suspect they might have COVID will not have to cellphone to e book a check.
Sufferers will have the ability to come alongside to the COVID Evaluation Centre (drive to the automotive park up on the outdated Macmillan Unit on the Outdated Balfour Hospital). Centre workers will then present a self-testing PCR equipment which you’ll undertake in your automotive and hand again for processing.
In line with NHS Orkney, full directions will likely be given. They’ve assured the general public that the self-tests are as correct as our workers finishing up the checks.
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