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Apr 2020

Last Updated: 29/04/2020

Harrogate district care staff struggle to access coronavirus testing centres

by Vicky Carr

| 29 Apr, 2020

With 26 care homes reporting suspected coronavirus cases, staff and residents across the Harrogate district should now be able to access testing. However, the reality is a mixed picture, with some getting all they need and others encountering problems.

The NHS Test and Trace scheme aims to protect the public, but caution must be taken to prevent scamming.

Coronarivus testing for care home residents and staff has been patchy across the Harrogate district, as the government promises to make 25,000 home testing kits available every day.

Some care homes are reporting they have received the kits they had requested, while others are still waiting for a delivery so they can confirm whether residents have the virus.

For key workers, drive-through testing sites have been opened, but can only be accessed by arranging an appointment. In one case, a care home worker was told there would be a three-week wait, despite NHS advice being to test within five days.

The member of staff from Emmaus House on Harrogate's Valley Drive had shown symptoms of coronavirus, but after trying to get a test at Temple Green, just off the M1 to the east of Leeds, was told the next appointment was in mid-May. Another member of staff who doesn't drive has been unable to access testing so far - but a third member of staff who showed symptoms earlier had been able to arrange a test.

Without confirmation of whether they have coronvarivus, those two staff members now have to self-isolate. Meanwhile, testing kits for residents have not yet arrived at the home. A team leader at Emmaus House, who asked us not to use her name, said:

"It's quite frustrating. We're losing staff for longer than necessary. They should make sure everything is in place before they talk about it on the news."

The government this week promised to roll out testing across much more of the population, making 25,000 testing kits available every day and allowing key workers with symptoms to book appointments at drive-through test centres, including one created for the Harrogate district at Poppleton park and ride.

Statistics released today show that 26 care homes in the Harrogate district have reported suspected coronavirus cases and there had been 19 deaths in care homes thought to be related to the virus.

Testing kits arrive

Although some homes, including Emmaus House, have struggled to get deliveries of testing kits, others have received them this week. At Vida Grange in Pannal, staff have been able to access testing facilities, while tests have been received by the home in order to test residents with symptoms. James Rycroft, Managing Director of Vida Healthcare, said:

“So far, five residents and numerous staff members have been tested. Of these, two residents and four members of staff have shown positive results for the virus. As we hear more on test results we will update the families of our residents in our newsletter.

“We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and it’s encouraging to hear the Government’s plans for a massive expansion in testing. The testing of residents and staff without symptoms could prove crucial in tackling the spread of the virus in care homes.”

At Belmont House in Harrogate, the tests are now beginning to arrive for residents and all staff will be screened. Similarly, Ripon's Skell Lodge has received testing kits and has had negative results back for two of its residents, leading to cheering among them and the staff when the results arrived.