An Angus woman has hit out at Covid-19 testing in Tayside after she was forced to miss an eye operation due to a lost swab sample.
Janet Dewes, 82, was “shocked” to receive a call earlier this week from the Ophthalmology department in Ninewells Hospital cancelling her cataract operation due to the missing Covid-19 test.
She said: “Having gone to the Covid-19 testing and self-isolated with my husband for 72 hours prior to the operation, which was scheduled for Tuesday morning, I was shocked.
“In fact, I said that was outrageous and quite unacceptable.”
A nurse offered Mrs Dewes, from Kingennie, a new date for the operation but it clashes with a family birthday party.
“It’s been that sort of irritation. Then there is the thought of having to go through the test again – which isn’t pleasant – and all the other disruptions that have come with it.”
Janet took the test at the Royal Victoria Hospital testing point but discovered the sample had gone missing after transfer to the virology lab at Ninewells.
She called the laboratory manager there.
“He was quite shocked at what I told him. He told me that he couldn’t understand it. He said it was very rare. No-one had reported to him that a swab had gone astray.”
“He knew the Covid test was a very uncomfortable thing to go through. He was very amiable but I have not had a call back yet.
“I’m not going to let it rest. I’m going to ring again and say – ‘what did you discover?’”
She said her experience had led her to wonder if there was a wider issue with other lost tests.
“I did ask the nurse that phoned me from Ophthalmology department if other swabs had gone missing but she said it’s just yours.
“That made me the think it was all quite strange, actually.”
Her husband Peter, 76, who has also missed engagements due to the extended period of social isolation, said: “How is this possible in our much-vaunted Covid testing system?
“Fortunately due to a cancellation, the Ophthalmology Department were able to offer an alternative date soon but we have to go through the same rigmarole again and miss another weekend because of imposed isolation.”
He said: “This time we hope that the precious snot manages to be tested.”
A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: “We have spoken with Mrs Dewes directly to apologise for the inconvenience and upset this has caused her and her family.
“We have rescheduled her procedure and have invited her to take another test.”
