HELENSBURGH’S MSP has called for reassurances over the supply of Covid tests following reports that a town hub ran out of kits this week.

Jackie Baillie said she was contacted by a number of constituents informing her that a testing facility in the car park of the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre had run out of PCR tests, and members of the public were being diverted to Dumbarton and Old Kilpatrick.

It is understood that the 300 tests allocated to the centre ran out by Monday afternoon.

Ms Baillie said: “At a time when our local positive case numbers are rocketing, it is unthinkable that local testing hubs are running out of tests.

“Many local people, either with symptoms or asymptomatic close contacts, are being forced to travel a greater distance than necessary to access vital tests. This also puts them in contact with far more other people than they should be.

“I have written urgently to Humza Yousaf asking for both an explanation for this shortage and for urgent supplies to be given to these hubs.

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“It is of the utmost importance that any local person who is in need of a PCR is able to access one quickly and easily.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are aware that people are experiencing difficulties accessing tests in some areas and have been redirected to alternative sites.

“The UK Government holds primary responsibility for supplying test kits to these sites and we have raised this with them as a matter of urgency.

“We are working with them and others to help rectify the situation.

“Anyone who has symptoms should book a test as soon as they can. NHS Inform provides details of all the ways to access a test.”