THE Scottish government is being pressed to commit to regular and routine coronavirus testing for home-care workers amid concerns about testing capacity across the country. 

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was quizzed in Holyrood today on the safety of key workers, with warnings from trade unions that a failure to carry out tests could lead to a second wave of the virus. 

At First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard asked the government to allay the fears of frontline staff by agreeing to systematic testing. 

Mr Leonard said that a backlog over the past week had revealed issues with the current system, and he sought assurances from the government about consistent delivery of testing. 

This follows a survey by Unison which showed that half of its members in care homes had not been checked.  

Mr Leonard called for “regular and routine access to testing for Scotland’s heroic home-care workers.”

Ms Sturgeon said that it was right to raise concerns of workers, and that expanding routine testing to home-care workers was being considered. 

The issue of testing was also raised by the Scottish Greens, with Alison Johnstone calling for a new strategy to meet the demand. 

The Greens’ parliamentary co-leader said this must recognise that the British system was failing, increasing NHS Scotland’s role. 

The First Minister said that Scotland’s testing system had “by and large” worked effectively. The government had also received assurances that the country’s access to testing units would not be constrained, and that laboratory capacity would be maintained.