Pharmacies in Dudley to offer lateral flow Covid tests
A number of pharmacies across Dudley will be offering pre-booked lateral flow Covid-19 tests for people with no symptoms from Wednesday.
The lateral flow rapid antigen tests will be available to all symptom-free borough residents at participating pharmacies.
The project is part of a national pilot scheme and is being delivered by a number of community pharmacies across the borough, through the Dudley Local Pharmaceutical Committee in partnership with Central Health Solutions Limited.
So far, more than 20 pharmacies are participating in the scheme – but this will increase over the coming weeks and into the new year. Pharmacies taking part includes Jhoots, Dixons Green, Dudley Wood and Dispharma in Dudley Central; Village, Lad and Jhoots in Kingswinford; Manor, Modi, Hawne and Evergreen in Halesowen; Broadway, Brettell Lane and Day Night in Stourbridge; Priory and Wrens Nest in Wrens Nest; Jhoots and Milan in Netherton; Millard and Bullock in Coseley; and McArdles, Jhoots and Meds at Home in Brierley Hill.
A separate testing site, also part of the pilot but will not be open to the public, is planned for fire service crews.
The tests can be booked online and people will receive their results within 20 to 30 minutes. The test still involves a swab of the nose and throat, but results are much faster than the standard Covid-19 test which is sent to a laboratory.
Meanwhile vaccinations are also being rolled out across the region, with patients injected at GP surgeries in the region for the first time on Monday.
Councillor Patrick Harley, Dudley Council's leader, said: "This is a really innovative project and we are the first local authority in the country to use pharmacies to roll out these tests.
"We know that between one in four and one in three people who have coronavirus never show any symptoms but that does not mean they are not infectious. The symptom-free tests will help us to identify and disrupt the chain of infection.
"It might seem an odd thing to get a test when you feel well, but it can really help us to prevent the spread of this illness to people who are more vulnerable."
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Councillor Nicolas Barlow, the authority's cabinet member for health and adult social care, said: "These lateral flow tests are just one element in the fight against coronavirus and we will be most successful if we all continue to do the essentials – wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces, washing hands regularly and staying at least two metres apart, or one metre with a face covering or other precautions."
Olutayo Arikawe, a pharmacist at Priory Pharmacy, which will be taking part, added: "The tests are quick and simple to do and people get their results really quickly. Taking one of these tests when you are symptom free is a big step in terms of breaking the chain of the virus and reducing transmission.
"It’s really important though, that even with a clear result, people continue to follow government guidance, adhere to the rule of six and follow the hands, face, space advice. Even though you may test negative one day, you could still contract the virus at a later date, and if you show signs of any of the main symptoms, not just one, you must get a full Covid test at one of our four test centres."
For more information about pharmacies taking part, or to book a test online, visit www.1centralhealth.co.uk/covid screen.
