Fears families being sent 'miles' for tests will hamper efforts to stamp out coronavirus in South Tyneside

Mobile testing units have been operating at various locations in South Tyneside, including at Temple Park and Little Haven.

But despite these options, some families have been sent miles out of the area for screening, prompting concerns it could discourage some with symptoms from getting a test at all.

“Anecdotally, it seems people who do have symptoms and want to get tested, when they go online are being sent not to local testing units and actually often much beyond the region,” said Joan Atkinson, cabinet member for Area Management and Community Safety at South Tyneside Council (STC).

“I don’t know how many people this is affecting, but I know it is affecting people and it is going to be a big disincentive to those who may have symptoms, but feel they can’t get in anywhere locally, even though they know there is a local option.”

Cllr Atkinson was speaking at a meeting of the council’s ruling cabinet, which was held by videolink and broadcast via YouTube.

According to health chiefs for the borough, 110 tests were carried out at a mobile test centre in the borough on Tuesday, September 8.

The facility is also expected to be at other locations in the borough over the coming days.

Concerns about access to testing were raised as bosses predicted it was ‘almost certain’ South Tyneside would remain on the government’s coronavirus watch list when ministers review it later today (Thursday, September 10) and may even be shifted into a more serious category.

Tom Hall, STC’s director of public health, said: “I too have been made aware of anecdotal reports of people struggling to get testing slots.

“We’ve fed that back [to NHS Test and Trace] and sought assurance that slots at Temple Park and Little Haven are being prioritised for South Tyneside residents.”

Hall added anyone in the borough struggling to get a test in a convenient location should continue checking the NHS website for more screening slots being released.

A message from the editor

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Shields Gazette website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.shieldsgazette.com/subscriptions to sign up.

You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here: https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/.

Thank you.