College supports key workers with drive-through testing facility

Perth College UHI is helping to ensure the health and safety of key workers by accommodating a drive-through coronavirus testing facility on the Crieff Road campus.

The mobile testing centre will be situated in the Brahan car park and comes as part of the UK Government’s UK-wide drive to increase testing for thousands more NHS and other key workers.

Perth College UHI Principal Margaret Cook said: “We are happy to play our part in fighting this international health crisis by hosting the drive-through coronavirus testing facility at our campus. Many of our students and staff are undertaking key worker roles at this time and it’s great to see an increase in testing being implemented to support people’s valuable work.

“We are proud to continue to consider every opportunity to help in this time of crisis, whilst taking stakeholders views into account. However, we are committed to use our resources - which includes our estate facilities - to be socially responsible and do what we can to help both the UK and Scottish Governments’ efforts to fight the disease.”

To further support the fight against the virus, Engineering staff have been liaising with the NHS, Perth & Kinross Council and local schools to operate three 3D printers to make PPE visors for local care home staff - of which after a quality check - 100 should be ready to start distribution at the start of May, increasing on a weekly basis.

In addition, various departmental staff donated thousands of gloves and hundreds of aprons and masks to support local care worker’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements.

The Creative Industries department also sent Perth & Kinross Council a ‘hybrid mask’ design for use in their 3D printers, while some of our staff and students have volunteered within the NHS and other aspects of the healthcare industry to contribute to the COVID-19 response.

The drive-through coronavirus testing facility is strictly only for key workers with appointments.