Wellingborough MP describes testing situation as "far from satisfactory"

Wellingborough's MP has described the testing shortage as "extremely frustrating" and has written to the health secretary for answers.

Peter Bone MP visited Wellingborough's test site in Market Square on Tuesday, September 14 and shared his thoughts on Twitter.

He said: "Concerned that Wellingborough Covid testing centre is turning away people with symptoms, not because they don’t have the capacity to do the tests, but because there is not enough laboratory capacity.

"Will ask Matt Hancock what he is going to do to sort this out."

Speaking to the Northants Telegraph today (Thursday, September 17), Mr Bone said he wrote to the health secretary that day and has been entering ballots to ask the health secretary a question in the socially-distanced Commons chamber.

Mr Bone said: "It's not just Wellingborough, the whole country has this problem, it's extremely frustrating.

"The problem is not the testing capacity. In Wellingborough the Market Square looks really rather impressive, lots of tents and people there ready to take tests.

"When I was there, at least three people turned up with symptoms and they were not given the test. It’s not that they couldn’t test them, the problem was the laboratory is not processing them.

"Tests for Wellingborough go to Milton Keynes and as I understand it, that capacity has been reduced to help out with problems in Birmingham."

In recent days, many Northamptonshire residents have been sharing their frustrations at being unable to book tests at the sites in Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby.

Mr Bone said: "The problem is, I am pretty sure, is capacity is being switched for areas where there are additional lockdown requirements because it (the rate) is so high.

"That's all well and good but they cannot then advertise Wellingborough as a walk-in centre because it clearly isn’t.

"You have to book an appointment through the computer. When we tried to look there was nothing available and the only advice is to keep trying and trying. That’s not satisfactory at all."

The Wellingborough MP said the answer to the current crisis is to increase capacity in laboratories, and it is his understanding that the government is trying to do that.

Until that extra capacity is found, Mr Bone said: "They have got to stop saying if you get symptoms you can get a test because clearly, you cannot."

There has been suggestion that some of the test shortage has been caused by increasing demand, but Mr Bone said this was not the main issue. He said: "There has been an increasing number of people with symptoms (requesting tests) but that is not the problem, it is getting them sent and getting results.

"There is no point in sending tests and not getting results for seven days, you might as well just self-isolate."

Mr Bone said he will continue to press the health secretary for answers in relation to the situation in Wellingborough. He said: "Other MPs are saying the same from across the country, they are pressing the same thing.

"The answer is to get more laboratory testing and I understand that’s happening but I want to know what they are doing for Wellingborough and that’s what I have asked the secretary of state.

"In my view, it’s far, far from satisfactory."

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you