Rapid Covid tests for visitors to be rolled out in Scottish care homes this month

Rapid coronavirus testing is to be rolled out across Scotland for care home visitors from mid-December, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

It is hoped that the expanded use of lateral flow tests - which can give results within 45 minutes - will allow more people to spend time with loved ones ahead of Christmas.

The First Minister said trials would be launched at 15 Scottish care homes, in five council areas, next week ahead of a national rollout within a fortnight.

However, doubts have been raised about a similar scheme in England, with one council warning providers not to use the tests due to concerns about accuracy.

While the lateral flow tests can give rapid results as they do not need to be analysed in a laboratory, they can give a significant number of false-negatives, a study by Public Health England and Oxford University has found.

Speaking at her daily coronavirus briefing, the First Minister said: "From next week, we will begin the use of lateral flow testing for designated visitors to care homes.

“Testing kits will then be delivered to all care homes across Scotland from December 14 and I'm pleased to say that that is a month earlier than we had originally anticipated.”

She added: "It's possible that not all homes will be able to make lateral flow tests available before Christmas so we are also planning to make PCR testing [the more accurate tests] of visitors available when that is necessary over the festive period."

The Scottish Government has faced criticism for failing to do enough to facilitate visits for care home residents, although it has also come under intense scrutiny for a significant death toll in the facilities.

Addressing concerns over the accuracy of the rapid tests, Ms Sturgeon said it was important that they did not “replace any of the other safeguards that we are being asked to follow,” suggesting that hugging or touching of care home residents will be discouraged.

Guidelines state that touching is only permitted in limited cases, for example if a resident is dying or receiving spiritual care.

Willie Rennie, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said progress with testing and facilitating more visits to care homes had been made faster in England and said a wait of another two weeks was not good enough.

He called for full PPE and testing should be made “immediately available” north of the border.

“Residents in care homes in Scotland should not be losing out on precious, immediate contact with their loved ones,” Mr Rennie said.

“Families are being let into homes across England this week after the Department of Health agreed PPE adorned hugs could go ahead. Scotland cannot be allowed to slip behind the rest of the UK on care home visit provisions. There is no good reason the same shouldn’t be applied here.”

He added: “Vulnerable people have been starved of holding hands or hugging their relatives for the best part of a year. This vital contact can’t wait a moment longer.

“Full PPE and tests for families should be made immediately available. That’s the best way to get us through the last few tricky months.”

According to the latest National Records of Scotland figures, of 252 Covid-19 deaths registered last week, 75 were in care homes.