Dear Nusrat,
I am writing to update you on the provision of coronavirus testing in Wealden and the surrounding areas.
Free and accessible testing is a cornerstone of the NHS Test and Trace service which brings together testing, contact tracing and outbreak management to help prevent the spread of the virus, protect local communities and save lives. The NHS Test and Trace service have processed more than 22 million coronavirus tests since the pandemic began and contacted and identified 472,058 people as recent close contacts since the service began on 28 May 2020. This helps us get back to the things we love and enables people to see more of their friends and family, get businesses back on their feet and people in jobs.
I wanted to write to you to confirm that we are opening a Regional Test Site (RTS) in your neighbouring constituency of Lewes at Plumpton Racecourse, over the coming days. The site is a drive-through site and will offer both assisted and self-administered tests. I hope this site will make it easier for many people in Wealden, and the surrounding areas, to access testing.
This site is part of a network of RTS across the UK and is in addition to home tests which can be booked through the government’s online portal. Mobile Testing Units are also travelling the UK, responding to increased regional demand for testing, and supporting hard to reach areas and we are expanding the network of ‘walk-through’ Local Test Sites which are easily accessible by foot or by bicycle.
Before selecting this site, we have engaged with local government and public health stakeholders to narrow down the location and identify a suitable site. In order to reach a decision, we have considered which site is most suitable for best supporting communities in your constituency.
This expansion of testing supports the existing NHS and Public Health England (PHE) infrastructure, which has greatly increased its testing capacity since the coronavirus pandemic began, supporting our commitment to expand local direction of national testing resources and move to a more locally owned and delivered testing model.
Across the UK, testing capacity has been expanded to more than 300,000 tests a day, meaning that anyone with symptoms can book a test for free. Local authorities in England will have greater autonomy to deliver different types of testing models which are suited to the needs of their population and local communities.
Anyone experiencing a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste, should book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.
In England, anyone testing positive for the virus will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace to help them track their contacts. This will help people to identify who they may have been in close contact with, protecting others from further transmission.
Yours faithfully,
Lord Bethell
