Home carers in Glasgow are demanding immediate workplace testing for coronavirus amid anger of being "put to the back of the queue.

Workers through Glasgow's Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) have hit out at the roll-out of the Scottish Government's priority testing programme. 

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Friday, October 23 that priority testing would be extended to home care workers - only for the Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to announce just one month later that testing would be rolled-out for home care from mid-January.

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Since then, two temporary testing sites have been launched by Glasgow City Council in Dalmarnock and Pollokshields. Students have been offered tests to return home for Christmas while pilot projects have been launched to test care home visitors.

Almost 1500 GMB home care members will be asked if they are prepared to take industrial action to secure immediate and regular testing at work for Covid-19.

Rhea Wolfson of the GMB Scotland Women’s Campaign Unit said: “There is no excuse for leaving home carers waiting until next year for COVID-19 testing at work. The First Minister said home carers would get priority testing, but this isn’t what a priority looks like, this is how it feels to be put to the back of the queue.

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“If testing centres can be set-up in high risk communities within a matter of days, and if students can get a test to return home to their families for Christmas, then why are home carers, who will work in these communities throughout the festive period, being left to wait?

“We’ve asked the council to intervene, the council say they are waiting on more guidance from government, but there is no trust left in the government’s promises and timelines. From PPE to testing these workers have been consistently failed over the last ten months.

“Our members believe the only people who will stand-up for their safety and value are themselves, campaigning together under the banner of their trade union, and they have been left with no choice but to ballot.”

The ballot will start today and end at 12pm on Thursday, December 17.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Our social care key workers are on the frontline of our national pandemic response and their work is hugely valued. It is crucial that they are able to access testing when needed, with results provided in a timely manner.

“We have announced plans for significant expansion in testing – initially in areas of highest virus prevalence – for hospital patients, health and social care staff.

“In social care, testing will be expanded over the coming months for designated visitors, visiting professional staff, and care at home workers. A full roll out will come in January.

“The introduction of lateral flow testing in the New Year to the care at home workforce will enhance existing visiting guidance providing an additional layer of protection.  No test is 100% accurate, and testing will not replace other layers of protection, including appropriate PPE and Infection, prevention and control protocols.”