Mobile screening unit to tackle outbreak fails to show in Perth

A mobile testing unit designed to tackle the coronavirus outbreak in Coupar Angus failed to turn up in Perth on Saturday morning despite worried residents having pre-booked appointments.

At least a dozen people, including teachers, showed up to take the Covid-19 test at Broxden park and ride but were shocked upon their arrival to find that no testing centre was in place.

NHS Tayside and the Scottish Government announced on Friday that the additional testing facility would be available at Broxden from 10am.

One person with an appointment booked for 10.30am told The Courier that when they arrived there was at least 10 cars already waiting on site – but no testing unit.

They said: “My wife is a teacher and had symptoms, had booked online and it gave her the Broxden park and ride as the place to go. She turned up at 10.30am and there was no mobile testing unit but there was a bunch of people in cars wondering what to do.

“She phoned the NHS and they said they didn’t know what had happened but that other people had phoned up with the same kind of complaint.”

The teacher was then given another appointment in Dundee, however remained worried about how it would effect others trying to get tested.

They said: “(It) makes you wonder how they will manage to get (the) outbreak under control if people turn up for pre-booked tests and no testing unit is there.

“It’s a bit worrying because how many people turned up in the morning and then thought they wouldn’t bother.

“It could have been a lot worse if people hadn’t been complaining.”

A second teacher with a test booked at the Broxden site for 11.30am was also given a new appointment in Dundee after the testing unit failed to show in Perth. However as they were making their new reservation they saw the mobile testing unit arrive around 11.45am.

The teacher claimed the Army officials running the unit told those waiting that they “didn’t know they had to come” to Broxden.

The concerned teacher also witnessed what they perceived to be a lack of hygiene protocols being followed, with officials not wearing PPE or wiping down tables.

The Scottish Government said they were aware of the issue.

A spokesperson told The Courier: “We understand there was a short delay in setting up the mobile testing unit at Broxden this morning and that as soon as National Services Scotland (NSS) were made aware of this they reported it to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

“The unit is now fully operational and will stay open later to process as many people as possible.”