Third of NHS Lanarkshire staff test positive for coronavirus

A third of all NHS Lanarkshire staff probed for coronavirus have tested positive for the disease.

The true price being paid by frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19 was laid bare by NHS Lanarkshire this week, showing almost 300 (288) of the near 900 (868) medical staff tested had the disease.

The health board’s clinical director for occupational health, Dr Soodesh Reetoo, estimated the testing had “saved nearly 6000 work days” by ensuring staff did not self-isolate unnecessarily.

Those figures come as the Scottish Government was criticised over the speed at which testing for frontline staff was made available.

Further criticism has also been aimed at the governing SNP over the provision of lifesaving personal protective equipment (PPE) for key workers.

Dr Reetoo added:“We started testing, initially on a limited scale, on March 18, with the first positive result on March 19.

“Staff who test positive are given advice about when they can consider coming back to work after staying at home for at least seven days.

“They can return to work if they are feeling well and their symptoms have settled, and they do not have a temperature for 48 hours before their return.

“We also have a staff helpline for advice on any issues with test results and work or related health concerns.”

Dr Reetoo would not be drawn on whether any of the medical staff who had tested positive had died from the disease.