NHS Scotland's workforce guidance "asymptomatic testing" of staff during COVID-19: FOI release

Information requested

1. ​​​​​Guidance on asymptomatic testing of employers and staff during COVID-19. I was able to access this document, which outlines supplementary guidance issued by NHS Chief Executives on the 3rd July 2020, but I am unable to access that 3rd July document itself. Would you be able to provide a copy of this document?
2. Any other guidance that was given regarding asymptomatic testing of employers and staff. I am particularly interested in asymptomatic testing guidelines relating to ancillary staff such as Domestic Assistants and Porters by NHS Lothian.
3. Guidance and policy relating specifically to COVID-19 Domestic Assistants in NHS Lothian (those hired through the accelerated recruitment program), and the difference between their onboarding, testing and vaccination compared to permanent Domestic Assistants.

Response

In relation to questions 1 and 2, I enclose PDF copies of the Guidance for NHS Scotland Staff and managers on Coronavirus, versions 1 to 16 which was published and updated between 30 March 2020 to 1 November 2021 on the NHS Scotland Staff Governance website: https://www.staffgovernance.scot.nhs.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/guidance/. The last updated guidance was published on 24th June 2024 and is available on said website. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Further guidance was published in relation to your request is available from https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/ website:

Publication Date	Link
27/10/2020	DL(2020)29: Publication of COVID-19 asymptomatic weekly testing guidance – for employers and staff on the importance of weekly asymptomatic testing https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/files/dl-2020-29.pdf
09/12/2020	DL(2020)32: Guidance on expansion of HCW testing https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/files/dl-2020-32.pdf
16/08/2021	DL(2021)26: Updated guidance on twice weekly asymptomatic testing of healthcare workers (superseded) https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/files/dl-2021-26.pdf
17/12/2021	DL(2021)51: Healthcare Workers to increase Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing frequency from twice weekly to daily (superseded) https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/files/dl-2021-51.pdf
22/02/2022	DL(2022)05: Healthcare Workers to revert back to twice weekly Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing (superseded) https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/files/dl-2022-05.pdf
29/04/2022	DL(2022)12: Managing Health and Social Care Staff with symptoms of a respiratory infection, or a positive COVID-19 test, as part of the Test and Protect Transition Plan (superseded) https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/files/dl-2022-12.pdf
11/05/2022	DL(2022)13: Further Updates for Healthcare Professionals - Affecting staff testing, and amendments to guidance (superseded) https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/files/dl-2022-13.pdf
22/08/2022	DL(2022)29: Updates to COVID-19 asymptomatic testing guidance for patient testing; adult care home staff testing; extended use of face mask guidance and launch of Covid and Flu Vaccination Autumn/Winter 2022 (superseded) https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/files/dl-2022-29.pdf
14/09/2022	DL(2022)32: Advance Notice of a Pause of Asymptomatic Staff Testing in Health and Social Care and Asymptomatic Testing in Hospitals to be in place by the end of September 2022 (superseded) https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/publication/7705

In relation to question 3 of your request, the Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because NHS Lothian are the employers and may have the guidance and policy relating specifically to COVID-19 Domestic Assistants in NHS Lothian.

As such, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

However, you may wish to contact NHS Lothian at https://org.nhslothian.scot/foi/ who may be able to help you.​​​​​​​

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202500466655 - Information Released - Annex

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PDF

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4.3 MB