April 8, 2020 10.55 am This story is over 50 months old

For NHS staff only: People told not to go to Lincoln coronavirus test centre

People have been turning up hoping to get tested but the stations are to help NHS staff get back on the frontline

Health bosses have told the people not to turn up to new NHS testing centres as officials begin to target frontline staff who are symptomatic.

Testing stations have been opened at Yarborough Leisure Centre in Lincoln, and the Princess Royal Sports Arena in Boston.

Tony McGinty, assistant director of public health at Lincolnshire County Council, urged people to stay away from the centres.

“People should not show up to the centre, they won’t be tested and will be turned away,” he told Local Democracy Reporters.

“Staff will be invited personally and people showing up would cause congestion for staff trying to run them.”

Tony McGinty, assistant director of public health at Lincolnshire County Council. Photo: The Lincolnite

He urged people with symptoms to follow the isolation advice and use the 111 service with any concerns, or 999 in an emergency.

More testing stations could be set up in the future.

Both centres are now open to NHS employees and are looking to test around 80 members of staff and those they live or are quarantined with per day across both sites.

The drive-thru centres will initially focus on intensive care, emergency department and ambulance staff currently isolating at home for the 14-day period because a family member has symptoms.

Dozens of workers were on site on Monday to prepare the coronavirus testing facility in Lincoln for NHS staff. Photo: Georgina M

Staff will be invited personally to take a test, meaning it is a targeted scheme at people who are feeling symptomatic and isolating.

The exam consists of a swab test and takes around 48 hours to be completed.

Staff will get a phone call from their employer informing them of the result and whether they can return to work.

Earlier this week, ULHT Chief Executive Andrew Morgan revealed that more than 500 members of staff were away from work due to coronavirus.

Added to normal sickness levels, the pandemic had pushed the number of NHS staff absences at Lincolnshire’s hospitals to around 11% of the workforce

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