Test and Trace expert apologises to people struggling to access Covid-19 test as labs reach 'critical pinch-point'

The system has been inundated with issues including people being directed to test centres more than 100 miles away from their homes.
AFP via Getty Images
Rebecca Speare-Cole8 September 2020

A Test and Trace expert has offered her "heartfelt apologies" to anyone struggling to access a coronavirus test as she admitted laboratories have reached a "critical pinch-point".

Sarah-Jane Marsh, the director of testing at NHS Test and Trace, has apologised to the public, saying the laboratory's processing system is struggling to cope with the demand.

The system has, in the past few week, been inundated with issues, including people being directed to test centres more than 100 miles away from their homes.

For some people with Covid-19 symptoms who booked tests online, they were allocated to a centre that would take them more than three hours to reach by car.

It comes as failings in the tracing system were revealed as official figures showed that in some parts of the capital far less than half of “close contacts” of coronavirus-infected people have been traced and told to self-isolate.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Ms Marsh said: “Can I please offer my heartfelt apologies to anyone who cannot get a Covid test at present.

“All of our testing sites have capacity, which is why they don’t look overcrowded, it's our laboratory processing that is the critical pinch-point.

“We are doing all we can to expand quickly.”

It comes after the head of England's testing programme last week blamed problems on the "significant" increase in people booking rests.

Baroness Dido Harding, interim chairwoman of the new National Institute for Health Protection, which incorporates NHS Test and Trace, told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “Fundamentally, it is because the demand for testing has grown so fast and so much.

“We’ve seen an increase in 63 per cent more people coming forward to be tested for the first time than June and in many ways that’s a good thing.

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures

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“Now obviously I don’t want people to be being directed to go miles and miles for a test but the reason that that is happening at the moment is because of a really significant increase in demand off a testing platform that, as I’ve said, is larger than any other in Europe.”

Meanwhile, Andy Thompson, 38, a technical manager from Crewe, said that his six-year-old daughter is home from school with a continuous cough. However, they have so far been unable to get a home test.

The system has been inundated with issues including people being directed to test centres more than 100 miles away from their homes
REUTERS

“It’s an absolute shambles. No home tests available. And now the nearest test centre is Oldham, a 100-mile round-trip with a sick child,” he said.

“I didn’t realise how bad it is. If you haven’t got a car, no way you’re getting tested.

“And if you aren’t computer literate, don’t bother as the phone line is useless. I’ve tried every option to speak to someone and it just hangs up saying call back later they are busy.”

He said his daughter became sick only two days after returning to primary school and was now unable to go back until she had a negative test or had quarantined.

Mr Thompson added that he also has “bad asthma” so is worried about catching the virus.

“Until today I didn’t realise how badly the Government are handling it,” he added.

The Department of Health has been approached for comment.

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