FRUSTRATION AS LONG JOURNEYS TO CORONAVIRUS TEST CENTRES WASTED
FRUSTRATIONS have been raised over coronavirus test centres after two North Wales men booked tests, only to be turned away after driving miles.
Last Tuesday Ian Carmichael drove from Anglesey to the Covid-19 testing station in Llandudno after booking online, but was denied a test, because he did not have a QR code.
Mr Carmichael took to Twitter to air his frustrations, saying he eventually got through to someone on the 119 test service number, but was told there were no more slots available at the centre and there were IT issues with the website.
During the three quarters of an hour he was there, Mr Carmichael tweeted that he only saw five cars enter.
He managed to get a test booked last Wednesday at Llandudno, after initially being told he may have to drive nearly 150 miles to Leicester.
Then 71-year-old Steven Freudmann, who has prostate cancer and lives in
Worthenbury, Wrexham, told of his frustrations, after his 18-year-old son became unwell. Last Monday he tried to book a test for his son online and was told the nearest centres were Oldham – 50 miles away and Ironbridge – 52 miles, but there was no availability. He rang 119 but had no success after hanging on for two hours.
Mr Freudmann tried 119 again on Tuesday, waited for 50 minutes, was told the website wasn’t working properly and to try and book online again that day. At 3.30pm the website showed availability at 6.30pm at Ironbridge and he decided to take the 100 mile round trip, after printing the confirmation.
Mr Freudmann said: “On arrival at the Ironbridge testing centre there were five cars in front of me, all of which were turned away.
“When it came to my turn, I showed my written confirmation only to be told unless I had received a texted acknowledgement with a special code, I could not be tested. I am still unable to secure a test anywhere. Is this really the world beating testing system our Prime Minister promised?”
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care, who run the test centres, said improvements were being made to the system, including ensuring travel does not go beyond 75 miles.