Government unable to answer questions over Covid-19 testing situation in Chesterfield

A number of residents have contacted us to say they are struggling to access a Covid-19 test outside Chesterfield’s Technique Stadium via the Government website.

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We asked the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) if they were keeping up with demand at the Technique Stadium testing site.

We also asked DHSC if most people from Chesterfield were able to get a test at the Technique Stadium.

However, a DHSC spokesperson said: “It is difficult for us to get specific information for individual testing sites due to the sheer volume of press requests we get at the moment.”

They went on to send us this statement: “NHS Test and Trace is working, our capacity is the highest it has ever been and our laboratories are processing more than a million tests a week.

“We are seeing a significant demand for tests but if you have symptoms we urge you to get tested. New booking slots and homes testing kits are made available daily and you can help protect yourself if you wash your hands, cover your face and make space.

“We are targeting testing capacity at the areas that need it most, including those where there is an outbreak, as well as prioritising at-risk groups and we recently announced new laboratory facilities and new technology to process results even faster.”

In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there had been a ‘sharp rise’ in the number of people seeking a test.

He said there were ‘operational challenges’ with testing which the Government was ‘working hard’ to fix – and added that it would take a ‘matter of weeks’ to resolve the problems.

On Monday, we reported that one concerned mum from Chesterfield had been trying to get a coronavirus test for her poorly daughter for three days.

And commenting on that story on our Facebook page, Louise Hull-Bailey said: “It’s a nightmare. I couldn’t get a test for my daughter either.”

Katie Smith said: “Can’t get a test anywhere. Tried every day since Saturday and nothing.”

However, Claire Lawrence said: “Myself and my son – on separate occasions – both had tests at the Technique Stadium. Easy as anything.”

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