Empty centres, staff arguing over the phone and residents not getting results - Rugby councillors reveal Covid-19 testing 'disaster'

Rugby councillors have shared their frustration with the Covid-19 testing system, telling the Advertiser of arguments between testing stations, a teacher having to drive to Heathrow and residents left waiting for results.

Demand for tests across the country soared following a Government campaign urging people to get tested for the virus.

And in the past few weeks stories have emerged of people across the country struggling to book Covid-19 tests, while test centres appear to sometimes be empty.

Sarah-Jane Marsh, one of the directors of the government's test and trace programme in England, recently apologised for a lack of tests, stating the issue was not lack of capacity at stations, but a lack of capacity in laboratories to process tests.

This problem has been clearly felt in Rugby, where there has been a rise in cases in recent weeks.

The latest data, released on September 16, reveals that Rugby had 62 positive cases over the previous week - double the rate of the next biggest increase in the county -which was Nuneaton and Bedworth at 33 cases.

Rugby Lib Dem group leader Cllr Jerry Roodhouse said: "It's becoming clear that behind the scenes there's not the capacity to do the tests, and I've been told things won't get better until the end of October.

"[Rugby MP] Mark Pawsey needs to be banging the drum on this."

Cllr Roodhouse said one resident walked from their home to the testing site at the GEC rec to see if she could get a test without booking.

The resident told Cllr Roodhouse that she saw 18 staff doing nothing for 10 minutes as they debated as to whether she could have a test.

Cllr Roodhouse added that a teacher at a Rugby school gave up trying to book a test in Rugby and had to drive to Heathrow.

Tests sent away a week ago and still no results

Earlier this week Labour Cllr Barbara Brown described the current testing situation as a disaster.

She said: "I've got two teenage grandchildren who love with me. They are both students at a local secondary school.

"They were in contact with someone who tested positive so they're not able to return to school until they are tested.

"We tried to book a test but there was nothing for a walk-in or drive-in, so we had to book a home test.

"We sent those tests off a week ago and we have heard nothing back.

"I called the helpline and after having to speak with robots, I finally got through to someone and they said, 'just wait 10 days from the time they were in contact with the person and then send them back to school'.

"It's not so much of an issue for me, but some of our most vulnerable people, and their carers, are being let down."

Arguments between test centres

Cllr Brown said she heard of one resident who booked a slot at Leicester before being told the test could be done in Rugby.

When they went to the Rugby testing station she was told there had been a mistake, so she called the Leicester station and passed the phone to Rugby staff.

An argument then ensued between the two stations before she was again told she could not have the test at Rugby.

Rugby Labour group leader Cllr Maggie O'Rourke has worked for the NHS for 40 years, and previously wrote plans for coping with a pandemic.

She said the issue is not only the difficulty in people booking tests, but in the delays in receiving results - which means tracking and tracing cannot be done properly.

"The Government says, 'we're doing more tests than other European countries like Germany' - but they're not doing the tracing that other countries are.

"It's all very well saying, 'test, test, test', but it needs to be 'trace, trace, trace' as well."

Delays in test results leave our hardworking council officers 'fighting blind'

Cllr O'Rourke said her experience writing a plan for coping with a pandemic has made her believe that the system would be much more effective if Warwickshire County Council and Rugby Borough Council were given more control.

She said: "I have every respect for Public Health and Environmental Health teams in Warwickshire.

"They are doing fantastic work, but because of delays from central Government they are fighting blind.

"Since the start of this I have continually asked for more local control at a county and borough level," she said.

Cllr O'Rourke urged Rugbeians to follow the rules to halt any further spread of the virus in the borough.

"This isn't about blaming anyone, most people in Rugby have done a brilliant job, and we were doing better than the rest of the county.

"We can get back to that if everyone follows the basic rules, keeping distance, washing hands, not having house parties.

"I would also encourage everyone eligible to get their winter flu jab," she added.

Rugby council is doing what it can within its power

Rugby council leader and Conservative group leader Cllr Seb Lowe issued a statement to the Advertiser.

He said the council is aware of the lack testing capacity at laboratories, but they are doing everything in their power to try to ensure Rugbeians can get tested.

Cllr Lowe said: “We are aware of problems our health colleagues are facing with testing capacity at laboratories across the country, but are doing everything we can to make it easy for residents to get a test.

"We have provided a venue for the mobile testing site that will operate at least a couple of days every week to the end of the month.

"Not only that, but we are providing a local test site to the Department of Health to use daily – we hope by the start of next month.”

Rugby's MP responds to concerns

Rugby MP Mark Pawsey was approached to respond to Cllr Roodhouse's call for him to address the issue with the Government.

Mr Pawsey said: “I fully understand the frustration and concerns of Rugby and Bulkington residents in getting a coronavirus test.

"There has been a significant surge in demand for tests in recent weeks and this has obviously put pressure on the testing system.

"I want to thank those who are involved in administering the tests for their perseverance and hard work in helping to keep local residents safe and for the patience of those who have had to wait.

"To put the coronavirus testing in context, the UK is currently conducting 240,000 tests per week and per thousand people, we are testing 2.54.

"In contrast, Germany are testing 1.88, Spain 1.91 and France 1.89.

"Whilst I think that putting this in place is a remarkable achievement, demand is still outstripping availability and I know that my colleagues in the Department for Health and Social Care are fully focused on improving testing.

"It is also worth remembering that despite the recent concerning increase in cases, Rugby, and Warwickshire as a whole, is not seeing the kind of outbreaks we have seen elsewhere.

"I think this is a testament to how local residents have overwhelmingly done the right thing for Rugby and followed the guidance. Continuing to do so is absolutely vital to avoid further restrictions being imposed and most importantly, save lives.”