Scots mum forced to spend Christmas in isolation after waiting five DAYS for PCR Covid test result

A MUM and her son were forced to spend Christmas in isolation after a delay in getting their PCR results - which still haven't come back.

Rhona Thomson, 55, headed to Prestwick Airport on Thursday, December 23, hoping to get a negative Covid test result in time to spend the big day with her loved ones.

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But nearly a week on, she and her son Michael are still waiting to hear back from their PCR test.

The pair, from Prestwick, Ayrshire, both returned postive lateral flow tests, and headed to the airport to get a PCR test - the result of which would determine if they would have to continue self-isolating.

But after a delay in getting their result, they have spent days in quarantine at home, without knowing their Covid status.

Rhona told the Daily Record: "This has been a terrible situation that could not have come at a worse time.

"The possibility that further tighter restrictions will once again be being implemented soon meant this Christmas was particularly important for everyone.

"The fact we have not been able to see our loved ones or get together with friends at Christmas, for what could be a negative result, is shocking."

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The isolation has cost pub worker Michael several shifts at a crucial time of year, and mum Rhona claims neither have been given a reason as to the delay in receiving their results.

But Jason Leitch, Scotland's national clinical director, has said most PCR results will be returned within 24-36 hours from now on.

The professor was quizzed on test delays on Good Morning Scotland today, after several reports of cases like Rhona and Michael, where Scots were waiting days for a result - which normally takes around 24 hours.

Asked about the wait, Prof Leitch said: "It has just been big because quite a lot of people went for testing before Christmas, in order to try and get Christmas celebrations that were safe if they had symptoms or it they were contacted.

"I apologise for that, I am sorry if people had to wait a little bit longer. We think the acute problem, the immediate problem is resolved.

"My understanding was, yesterday speaking to Test & Protect leaders, that the backlog was cleared and they were back to somewhere between 24 and 36 hours for pretty much all the tests.

"Postal ones take a bit longer just because it takes a while to get through the mail and back.

"Fundamentally, yes, if there is a massive increase in PCR testing, then you do have to make some choices about prioritisation, about high-risk individuals and locations, but we are not at that stage yet.

"We need to wait to see the numbers smooth out a little, to give the non-statistical phrase, just because Christmas testing behaviours are different, but if you look back to the day when Omicron first reared its head in Scotland, we had one case on November 28, we had 2,332 other cases, pretty much all Delta.

"Now we have four times that and it's three and a bit weeks later, nearly four weeks later, so, it has quadrupled in three weeks which is exactly what we said would happen, I am afraid."

A spokesperson for the UK Health Security Agency said: “Due to record levels of demand we are seeing an increase in turnaround times for PCR test results.

"Fast action has been taken to expand processing capability and add extra capacity to our laboratory network to meet this exceptional demand.

"Our lab technicians and scientists are working as fast as possible to ensure the public receives their results quickly and we apologise to anyone that is having to wait a little longer for their test result.”

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