Haydock offers a drive-in coronavirus testing centre for NHS workers

Haydock is set to become a drive-in coronavirus test centre for NHS workers as part of the government’s push to increase examinations of doctors and nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In response to the government’s strategy to increase the number of coronavirus tests to 100,000 a day by the end of April, Haydock’s facilities will provide up to five drive-through lanes in operation for eight hours a day.

Professor John Newton, national co-ordinator for the UK Coronavirus Testing Strategy, said: “New testing sites such as Haydock Park are a key part of our five-pillar plan to scale up testing, and are critical in supporting NHS staff, who are isolating at home to return safely to work if the test is negative.

“This is a brilliant example of industries and businesses turning their resources to creating and rolling out mass testing at scale, which will help to deliver on our aim of carrying out 100,000 tests a day in England by the end of the month.”

The Haydock site is part of a rapidly expanding network of testing centres around Britain and will operate on an appointment basis for self-isolating key NHS workers, or the symptomatic member of their family. NHS workers will be selected and contacted directly by their NHS Trust.

Health minister Lord Bethell said: “The government is rapidly scaling up the national effort to boost testing capacity for the coronavirus to protect the vulnerable, support our NHS, and ultimately save lives.

“This is a national effort and we are proud to be working with a number of partners to turn this ambition into a reality and roll out additional capacity to where it is needed.”