Testing staff reassure public through process that can be daunting for members of public

ANYONE going to have a test at the drive-thru COVID-19 testing centre at DkIT can rest assured as two members of the HSE staff outlined their experience of being swabbed.

‘When you drive in, the first thing you see are the Army so it can look a bit daunting,’ says Claire*. ‘ They all have masks on and they will direct you to the next section There you will meet two HSE staff in PPE who will check your details i.e. name, DOB etc and explain what will happen. They will also give you a mask ’ The staff have walkie talkies and once a bay at the centre comes free, they will direct the next car to go there. ‘It moves along very swiftly,’ continues Claire. ‘Another person in full PPE will meet you and tell you what bay to go into. Then the person doing the swab will come out and introduce themselves. They will check your details and hand you a packet of tissues. After explaining how they are going to do the swab, they will ask you to take a tissue, close the car window, and blow your nose. Once you have done that, you will open the car window again and they will swab the back of your throat and nasal passage.’ The swab, she says, is like a long cotton bud. ‘It’s a bit uncomfortable but it’s over before you realise what’s happening,’

‘ The testing staff will put you at ease,’ says Vicky*, another HSE staff member. She admits that she was ‘ quite anxious’ when she went for the test ‘As staff we are usually at the other side of treatment.’ She says that the staff helped put her at ease as they talked her through the procedure. ‘ They gave me time to get ready, they didn’t rush me and let me go through the different stages at my own pace.’ She describes the swabbing as bit like a doctor using a lolly pop stick to check a patient’s tonsils. ‘It was all over in a flash.’

The HSE advises that people should phone their GP if they need a referral for free testing if they suddenly experience one of these symptoms and there is no other obvious cause: fever, cough, shortness of breath: or if they have been in close contact with a confirmed case or someone they think or know who has coronavirus in the past 14 days and if they suddenly experience one of the following; fever, cough, shortness of breath, blocked nose or sinus, stuffed or runny nose, sore throat; wheezing. If the GP recommends a referral for testing, they will get confirmation of the appointment by text. Testing is by referral only.