Dingwall-based MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Kate Forbes welcomes expansion of rural postcodes for coronavirus home test kits
Kate Forbes MSP has welcomed a significant expansion of rural postcodes available for Covid home test kits following intervention by the Scottish Government.
Previously, home test kits were unavailable for some mainland and island locations because the Royal Mail system was unable to send the kits to laboratories quickly enough.
But the Cabinet Secretary for Health Jeane Freeman has confirmed that the Scottish Government has extended the post box system that can now receive home test kits, and also arranged temporary courier support for areas within NHS Highland where UK-wide courier provision is not yet available.
Almost 100 additional post boxes can now receive home test kits, including 63 in previously unserved areas. Of the 98 extra post boxes, 36 are in the constituency of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
The public can also continue to book Covid tests for either drive-through or walk-through testing sites.
Kate Forbes MSP said: “I’m pleased to see a significant expansion of support for rural testing. It has been raised with me by constituents in rural areas that they weren’t able to access testing easily or locally.
“This substantial expansion will make a big difference, and I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary for Health was willing to look at these issues again.
“I spend every day of this job advocating for the same level of service in rural areas as in urban areas, for the same access in the Highlands as in the middle of Glasgow.
“Often that can be challenging, but it is important to have that continued representation in Government.”
Anyone returning a home test kit can find the location of their closest priority post box on the Royal Mail website, and they can book a courier by following the instructions that come with the test kit. The call handler then directs them to call their health board on a specific number to have the kit collected.
Anyone who needs a test on the islands within NHS Highland should refer to NHS Inform or phone 0800 028 2816 to find out how to book a test through local routes. The UK booking portal is only able to reference postcode districts and not full postcodes – this means that individuals in several island locations within NHS Highland can order home test kits when there is no mechanism to return them through the postal system, or by courier and local testing routes should continue to be used.
A list of postcode districts in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency that can now order Covid-19 home test kits:
IV6 – Muir of Ord
IV8 – Munlochy
IV9 – Avoch
IV10 – Fortrose
IV11 – Cromarty
IV40 – Morvich, Arnish
IV41 – Kyleakin
IV42 – Kylerhea
IV43 – Drumfearn
IV44 – Kilmore
IV45 – Armadale
IV46 – Taskavaig
IV47 – Portnalong
IV48 – Sconser
IV49 – Broadford
IV51 – Portree
IV52 – Plockton
IV53 – Stromeferry
IV55 – Dunvegan
IV56 – Bracadale
IV63 – Drumnadrochit
PA38 – Duror
PA80 – Lochaline
PH30 – Corrour
PH32 – Fort Augustus
PH33 – Fort William
PH34 – Spean Bridge
PH35 – Invergarry
PH37 – Glenfinnan
PH38 – Lochailort
PH39 – Arisaig
PH40 – Morar
PH41 – Mallaig
PH43 – Rum
PH44 – Isle of Canna
PH49 – Glencoe
