Concerns have been raised about the “unacceptable” length of time it has taken to test staff at a Moray care home for coronavirus.
A resident at Glenisla Care Home in Keith tested positive for Covid-19 on May 1 while they were in hospital.
However, it took until Tuesday for all tests to be done on staff and remaining residents at the premises operated by Parklands Care Homes.
No other positive cases have been confirmed at the home following the tests.
The Scottish Government said examinations would be done on staff and residents at facilities where there had been a virus outbreak.
Parklands says it made a “number of representations” to NHS Grampian following the positive test to ensure the tests were done.
Yesterday Health and Social Care Moray explained the amount of care homes requiring tests means locations need to be prioritised.
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston said: “With well over 1,000 deaths in Scottish care homes so far, we know that residents are extremely vulnerable to this virus and they must be protected.
“Part of that is testing and that should be conducted as a matter of urgency when a case is confirmed.
“That has not happened in this case and this is a real issue of both confusion and concern across Scotland.”
Mr Halcro Johnston explained he intended to raise the case with the Scottish Government to ensure similar “unacceptable” waits are not repeated.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead has also liaised with health authorities since the positive test to ensure follow-up checks were done.
Staff from Glenisla attended drive-through test centres in Elgin and Huntly while test kits were supplied to nurses for residents.
Parklands stressed that the welfare of staff and residents had remained their top priority throughout the pandemic.
A spokesman said: “We are continuing to follow the expert advice of NHS Grampian, Moray Council and the Care Inspectorate in order to mitigate any risk to residents.
“In line with national guidelines, residents are being isolated in their own rooms. They are in good spirits and are receiving the highest quality care from our professional team who are doing everything possible to ensure their welfare.
“Relatives are being updated daily and are being encouraged to make regular phone and video calls to their loved ones.”
A Health and Social Care Moray spokeswoman said: “Testing of residents and staff in care homes in response to a single possible or confirmed case is underway across Grampian.
“The number of care homes which meet this definition is large enough to mean that capacity and clinical prioritisation must take place to determine the order in which homes are tested.
“Glenisla is one of three care homes in Moray where testing has been carried out this week.”
