Hundreds of Chesterfield people having to travel many miles for Covid-19 test, MP tells Government

A testing site exists for key workers in the car park at Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium – but Toby Perkins said hundreds of his constituents were having to travel up to 40 miles to find out if they have Covid-19.

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The Government has acknowledged Mr Perkins’ concerns.

On Thursday, the Labour MP told the House of Commons: “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.

“I’ve been attempting to pursue this – but it seems to be a local example of a national failure.”

He urged the Government to ‘get on top of testing’.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the House of Commons, responded: “The testing strategy has achieved 205,000 tests as of May 30 in terms of capacity and that is important.

“It is the largest diagnostic testing programme in our history and has in a number of weeks got to more than four million tests having been undertaken.”

He added that Mr Perkins made an ‘important point’ and said he would ‘pass on’ the comments he made.

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