WENDY CALLS FOR FASTER H1N1 TEST RESULTS

- Delays in receiving results must be tackled -

Wendy Alexander MSP has today written to Nicola Sturgeon Cabinet Secretary of Health concerning delays in local testing procedures.

Wendy said

I have been contacted by constituents anxious about the time delay in receiving results after H1N1 virus swab tests from Dykebar – resulting in the withholding of alternative medical treatment if/when the tests proved negative for H1N1.

My constituents tell me they were informed that swabbing results would be available within 48 hours; however over 72 hours later they still waited. Cases where young children with previous conditions were becoming increasingly unwell over the period, are particularly distressing for parents. Swab tests carried out last Friday afternoon saw results not coming back until Tuesday and another constituent also tested on Friday was still awaiting contact on Wednesday, four days after their test.

My constituents say they are being told that only four persons are testing the swabs at the Dykebar testing centre thus resulting in the backlog of results beyond the 48 hr target for returning results.

Given the relatively low volumes currently coming forward for testing, I have asked the minister to clarify the current turn around times for H1N1 swab results.