Quarantined travellers furious over delays with test kits

DOZENS OF complaints have been made against a Covid-19 test supplier after quarantined travellers were left waiting several days for a kit to arrive.

East Yorkshire-based Latus Health has been accused of providing an “appalling” service, with customers claiming they received their £175 coronavirus tests late – potentially delaying their exit from quarantine.

The healthcare firm, which is on the Government’s official list of test suppliers, said there had been “some delays” with Royal Mail and that it pays for a 24-hour next day delivery service.

However, some 70 people have joined a Facebook group to complain about the firm, which is listed as a test provider on the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) website.

People returning to the UK from non-red list countries are required to quarantine for 10 days at home and take two Covid-19 tests – one on day two and another on day eight – before they can leave, depending on a negative result. But customers who have ordered through Latus Health have complained of test kits arriving more than a week late, and further delays in receiving test results.

Jack Latus, of Latus Health, said all orders that were due for dispatch have now been sent for delivery. He said: “Pre-bank holiday delivery delays can be for a number of reasons, with the main two being delays in delivery service due to pandemic situation.

“We pay for a 24-hour nextday delivery service – we can’t do much more than that.”

A Government spokesman said: “Tests from all private providers must meet the minimum required standards and are reviewed for safety and quality by the independent United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).”

Royal Mail said it was “working hard to maintain as normal a service as possible”.