John Lamont MP and Rachael Hamilton MSP took some time out of their Borders surgery tour to get tested for Covid-19 at the drop-in community test centre in Newcastleton this week.
The pop-up test centre in Newcastleton was located in the fire station, where the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service partnered with NHS Borders to provide rapid lateral flow tests for the community. It forms part of NHS Borders’ wider community testing programme that is taking place at local fire stations in towns and villages across the Borders.
Although neither Mr Lamont or Ms Hamilton had any COVID symptoms, the Borders politicians took the opportunity to get tested and spoke with the hard-working nurses and Fire Service staff on hand at the test centre.
Thankfully, they both tested negative. However, 1 in 3 people with Covid-19 show no symptoms. Testing people who feel well finds COVID-19 cases that would otherwise go undetected and helps to limit the spread of the virus.
Commenting, Scottish Conservative MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk John Lamont said:
“I was very pleased to be able to attend the community test centre in Newcastleton. It was fantastic to meet the NHS and Fire Service staff there and take the opportunity to thank them for all of their hard work throughout the pandemic.
“Thankfully, the UK’s vaccine rollout has enabled us to return to a much greater state of normality recently. However, as long as there is still a risk of infection in the community, these test centres will continue to play an important role in preventing the spread of the virus.
“Without the amazing effort of these nurses and men and women from our Fire Service, our communities would not enjoy quite the same level of safety from the virus as we are currently experiencing. Their work is incredibly important. I would urge anyone who has the chance to attend a drop-in test centre to do so."
Rachael Hamilton, Scottish Conservative MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh & Berwickshire said:
“The process of getting tested at the pop-up centre in Newcastleton was seamless. It is such an easy thing to do, and it can make a big difference in stopping the spread of COVID-19. Thankfully, John and I tested negative, but I am aware that even without symptoms, you could still have the virus.
“It is good to see the successful collaboration between NHS Borders and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. These instances of organisations working together towards our shared goal of tackling the virus are welcome.
“With the British Army stepping in to assist the Scottish Ambulance Service, and the Fire Service helping to carry out community testing, NHS Borders is finally beginning to receive the help it needs to get back to some sort of normality.”
Notes
NHS Borders community testing dates and locations can be found on this link: www.nhsborders.scot.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/community-testing/
