UK HEALTH chiefs have confirmed the opening of Scotland’s latest coronavirus test centre – by talking about England.

The five-lane drive-in facility will open at Aberdeen International Airport within days, offering appointments to NHS workers who are self-isolating due to virus fears.

It is hoped that the move will help NHS Grampian medics who test negative to get back to work more quickly, and allow those who test positive to focus on their recovery.

The test centre was announced by the Scotland Office yesterday.

But rather than focus on the needs of Scotland, or its north east, Westminster figures used it as an opportunity to talk about England.

READ MORE: Aberdeen Airport hosts drive-through coronavirus test centre

The announcement once again showed how out of touch Westminster chiefs are with Scottish systems.

The department explained that medics will be invited to get their test by “their NHS trust” – ignoring the fact that there are no NHS trusts in Scotland.

In the same statement, Health Minister Lord Bethell heralded the “national effort”, while Professor John Newton, co-ordinator for the UK testing strategy, said the facility “will help to deliver on our aim of carrying out 100,000 tests a day in England by the end of the month”.

Which is perhaps a little strange, given the geography involved – Aberdeen – was, the last time we checked, around 200 miles away from England.

Scotland Office minister Scotland Douglas Ross – the MP for Moray – also managed to avoid saying anything specific about Scotland’s coronavirus fight, commenting only that “this new UK Government-funded testing centre at Aberdeen Airport will help our frontline NHS staff continue doing their lifesaving work”.

He went on: “We need them able to go back to work and help those most in need of care, safe in knowledge they are not infected.

“The UK Government is expanding our testing capacity right across the UK and this new centre is a crucial part of that.

“And remember, over the Easter weekend our advice remains the same – stay at home, save lives.”

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