Home   News   Article

Lateral Flow Device tests to remain free for eligible hospital and care home visitors


By Ewan Malcolm

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

LATERAL Flow Device tests will remain free for individuals visiting relatives or friends in hospitals or care homes, NHS Grampian has confirmed.

Lateral Flow Device.
Lateral Flow Device.

Test kits can be obtained by completing an online form on the GOV.UK website or by calling 119 (available 7 days a week, 7am-11pm).

Free LFTs are no longer available to the general population in Scotland.

Until April 30 people with coronavirus symptoms should self isolate and get a PCR test.

Vaccinated close contacts of positive cases should do daily LFTs for seven days.

However, from May 1 people exhibiting symptoms will no longer need to test while physical test sites will close and contact tracing will end.

Lyn Pirie, Nurse Lead for Person Centred Visiting in NHS Grampian, said: "We know hospital patients and care home residents benefit enormously from being able to spend time with family and friends.

"We want people to do this as safely as possible and would strongly encourage visitors to continue with Lateral Flow Device testing.

"I would also remind potential visitors Covid-19 is not the only risk. If they are experiencing vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle aches, coughing, sneezing, and/or sore throats, they should postpone planned visits."

Free test kits (comprising seven tests) can be ordered online, for home delivery, at https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More