A testing site has been based in the car park at Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium for some weeks – but it was only for key workers and Mr Perkins said hundreds of his constituents were having to travel up to 40 miles to find out if they have Covid-19.
Mr Perkins said: “At last! I've finally managed to persuade nhs.uk that Chesterfield people must be able to access Covid-19 testing here.
“As of Monday, June 22, we'll be able to access tests at Proact stadium on the national portal.”
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The Labour MP had previously argued in Parliament that the Chesterfield case was ‘a local example of a national failure’ on testing.
He told the House of Commons early in June: “The people of Chesterfield were incredibly happy when Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group set up a coronavirus testing unit in the car park of the Proact Stadium – but weeks after it was set up the vast majority of people are unable to get a test there because it is only for key workers.
“This means that Chesterfield residents have to travel up to 30 or 40 miles to get a test.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the House of Commons, admitted Mr Perkins made an ‘important point’ and said he would ‘pass on’ the comments he made.
Click here to ask for an NHS coronavirus test.