Staff C-19 testing: new distribution arrangements for lateral flow tests
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NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) has announced new arrangements for the distribution of COVID-19 Lateral Flow Test for use by pharmacy team members, as part of asymptomatic staff testing.
Previously, pharmacy contractors ordered stock of the test kits from the Primary Care Support England portal, but from 5th July 2021, staff will be able to order test kits, when they are required, from https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.
When ordering their tests online, staff should select yes to the question ‘Do you work for the NHS in England and take part in their staff testing programme?’. Staff should then input the postcode of their workplace to ensure the tests are registered as belonging to a healthcare worker. Staff should continue to report the results of their tests on the NHS Digital gov.uk reporting tool, as per current practice.
Updated FAQs have been published by NHSE&I, including the following:
Can I get more tests from another route that is more convenient for me (e.g. a local community pharmacy, or as a parent of a school age child)? If you are able to order tests through the route described above, then you should do so, as this assures your organisation that its staff are compliant with testing requirements. If you do access LFDs through a different route, please ensure that your organisation is aware that you are participating fully in a twice a week LFD testing regime.
