By Jenness Mitchel & Gordon Chree
The manager of a pharmacy linked to a cluster of coronavirus cases is “confident” the chemist will continue to deliver “excellent pharmaceutical care” amid the pandemic.
On Wednesday, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) confirmed a cluster of eight Covid-19 cases linked to several businesses.
As well as a worker at Amazon’s warehouse in Gourock, staff at the M&D Green pharmacy in Port Glasgow’s John Wood Street were among those to have tested positive.
Speaking to STV News, the pharmacy’s manager Campbell Thomson wished all those affected by the virus a “very speedy return to health”.
He added: “I am confident following liaising with various different organisations, including the Scottish Government, Health Protection Scotland, and the local environmental health agency, that we have all measures in place as we have throughout the pandemic.”
Following a visit from Inverclyde Council’s environmental health team, the pharmacy has made minor adjustments to its “already rigorous cleaning procedure”. It has also undergone a deep-clean.
Mr Thomson stated: “We have had a massive commitment to all of our patients in Port Glasgow throughout the pandemic and we have worked on the frontline throughout the pandemic, delivering excellent pharmaceutical care to everyone in Inverclyde and the people who we serve, and I am very confident that will continue and will be built upon with the replacement team that we have drafted in whilst our staff return to health.”
Earlier on Thursday, Professor Jason Leitch, Scotland’s national clinical director, stressed that people living in Inverclyde should not be scared to use pharmacies in the region.
He said: “Today we’ve been in touch with the pharmacy and we’re very comfortable with how the pharmacy has behaved both up to this point and yesterday.
“The pharmacy is open, the pharmacy is safe, the pharmacy is having interventions like testing other people or any contacts that were there and all of that is in hand.
“People should not be scared to use pharmacies in this area.”
Dr Linda de Caestecker, the director of public health for NHSGGC, said the cluster is being “thoroughly investigated” and managed by a health-led incident management team (IMT).
Dr de Caestecker said: “All those who have tested positive for Covid-19 are being managed and we are working with a number of businesses including a pharmacy to contact trace any close contacts.
“All healthcare settings that these cases attended during their infectious period have been identified, assessed and are being supported with control measures, and anyone who may have been exposed to these cases are being given appropriate advice.
“We want to reassure local people that there is no risk to the wider community and anyone affected will be contacted through the Test and Protect service.”
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
