Covid-19 testing station hit three times by thieves
A Nelson Covid-19 testing site has been burgled for the third time, leaving staff feeling ‘‘exposed’’ and ‘‘vulnerable’’.
Nelson Bays Primary Health general manager of primary care Charlotte Etheridge said it was disheartening to see multiple thefts occurring at the Saxton Field Covid testing site.
Healthcare workers arrived on Friday morning to find the security cameras smashed, and tablets, laptops, phones and cameras stolen.
‘‘They were all locked away,’’ Etheridge said.
‘‘So we had all the measures in place to protect it all. But unfortunately, the measures weren’t good enough.’’
This is the third time the site has been targeted by thieves since it was permanently established around a year ago. The last break-in was two months ago.
Staff at the site distribute RAT tests and masks, do PCR tests, supervise RAT tests and give advice on how to isolate.
As a result of the theft, which has left healthcare workers feeling ‘‘vulnerable’’, the testing station was closed and the public were redirected to the Medical and Injury Centre over the weekend.
The service is used by some of the most underprivileged members of the community – including the elderly.
Etheridge said the healthcare team was highly valued.
‘‘We really need to make sure that we do everything we can to protect and continue to positively work with them and support them through this, because they are feeling quite exposed.’’
It would be really difficult to find another location that was as accessible as Saxton, she said.
A risk assessment would determine whether the site would reopen today.
Police said inquiries were continuing.