Calls for Scotland to 'catch up' with other UK nations in processing coronavirus tests

There are claims Scotland is processing fewer coronavirus tests per one million people than other parts of the UK.

Analysis by Scottish Labour of testing figures reported between the 17th of September and the 16th of October, has revealed that 88,527 tests were processed in Scotland per million people.

In contrast, every other UK nation has processed over 95,000 tests per million people during the same period with Northern Ireland and England both reporting over 100,000.

The party has said that this should serve as a wake-up call for the SNP government and that action must be taken urgently to increase the number of processed tests in light of Scotland’s high R number and increasing numbers of cases.

Scottish Labour deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said: “These statistics have demonstrated plainly that testing in Scotland is lagging far behind every other UK nation.

“Far too few key workers are being tested and we are running the risk of a substantial number of asymptomatic cases going undetected.

“With cases of the virus rising rapidly in Scotland, it is vital that the number of tests being processed is increased as a matter of priority.

“From the outset of this pandemic the advice of the WHO has been clear: “Test, test, test”. Despite this, and their alleged testing capacity, the SNP government is failing to keep up with every other UK nation.

“This is not good enough. The time has come for the SNP to pull out all the stops and test, test, test.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As set out to parliament last week and in daily briefings, the Scottish Government is currently reviewing our approach to testing and will be updating our testing strategy alongside the new strategic approach to suppressing COVID-19, which we will be bringing to parliament on its return.

“There is significant work underway to maximise capacity in Scotland ahead of winter, including the regional hubs, which will come on stream in a phased approach between November and December.

"As a result of this work our daily capacity will increase significantly, to ensure we have sufficient capacity to manage winter demands and the testing of eligible groups, symptomatic or asymptomatic.

"It is also essential we maintain capacity to manage testing in hospitals as required.”

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