Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith has said the supply of covid tests is improving after complaints that the system is in “chaos”, with health workers and residents left empty handed.

Mr Smith was told at a North Yorkshire County Council meeting on Friday that there have been no lateral flow tests available at Skipton’s pharmacies with staff at the town’s vaccination centre also unable to get tested as demand soared over the festive period.

Conservative councillor Mike Chambers, who represents the Ripon North division, described the system as being in “chaos” after people in the city have struggled to get test kits.

Mike Chambers

Independent councillor Andy Solloway, who represents Skipton West, told the meeting the shortages were putting a strain on the local economy and had also led to some residents launching abuse at pharmacy staff. He said:

Conservative MP Mr Smith said the government recognised there has been a surge in demand for tests and that while supply chains were improving, he would write to Health Secretary Sajid Javid to highlight the issue.

He said:

“The government is aware there was a big crunch point just after Christmas and they are now more confident on supply.

“This is an important issue as we need to get people confident to go to their workplaces, particularly health workers and others on the frontline.”

Read more:

• Andrew Lupton, sales director of Ripon firm Econ, dies suddenly
• Ripon sets aside £105,000 for four-day platinum jubilee extravaganza
• Can you get a lateral flow test kit in the Harrogate district?

‘Ridiculous situation’

Friday’s meeting also heard complaints from Conservative councillor Stuart Martin that health workers – including a family member – had been unable to get tested.

Stuart Martin

Councillor Martin, who represents Ripon South and is also chairman of the county council, said:

“My daughter is a paramedic and some of her colleagues came to my door over the Christmas break as they were unable to access any testing kits whatsoever.

“Luckily we had a couple of tests that we were able to give them, but this is a ridiculous situation.”

It comes as the government has said the current Plan B covid restrictions will remain in place for now.

Changes from tomorrow

It has also been announced that people who test positive with a lateral flow test do not need a follow-up PCR test if they do not have symptoms. These changes come into force from tomorrow.

Mr Smith told Friday’s meeting that he believed the Plan B rules – which include working from home, face coverings on public transport and in public places, and NHS covid passes – were “relatively soft” and that the decision to stick with them was “proportionate”. He said:

“It feels as if that judgement has been correct, but obviously there are still very strong crosswinds on parts of the NHS.

“We are not out of the woods yet and we all need to do whatever we can to encourage the following of the rules.”

Ripon’s New Year’s Eve free concert and fireworks display on Market Square is set to go ahead.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid’s announcement this week that no additional covid restrictions will be put in place in England before the New Year effectively gave Friday’s event the green light.

However, with the Omicron variant bringing a surge in the number of recorded covid cases in the Harrogate district, Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams is urging caution for the large public event.

He said:

“We ask anyone planning to attend to take a lateral flow test and only venture onto Market Square if it gives a negative result.

“We already had the licence for the event from Harrogate Borough Council and had been keeping a close eye on announcements from the government regarding covid measures.

“Now that we have the go-ahead, we hope that people will come and enjoy the night of free entertainment and ensure their own safety and that of others by taking sensible precautions.”

Fireworks display

Safety concerns about holding a fireworks display in Market Square to herald in 2022 have also been resolved. An alternative area of land to the rear of Ripon Town Hall will be used to discharge the display.

Entertainment will begin with the Ripon Hornblower ceremony at the obelisk at 9pm and will be followed by performances from an Oasis tribute act and the Big Boyband Reunion.

The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin, will address the audience at 11.55pm and, following a blessing by the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt. Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, the fireworks display will start as the town hall clock strikes 12.

New Year’s Eve celebrations have been held on Ripon Market Square since 1986 but covid caused the cancellation of the 2020 event.

Harrogate’s coronavirus testing centre will close at the start of June — as the government prepares to ramp up testing this week.

According to ministers, everyone in England, even those without symptoms, will be able to take a free rapid lateral flow test twice a week from Friday.

Test kits will be available either from various designated sites and pharmacies or through a home ordering service.

If someone returns a positive test, they will then need to take a more accurate PCR test.

Ascent Healthcare on Chain Lane in Knaresborough is the only site currently listed on the NHS England website as a pick-up site for rapid tests in the Harrogate district.

However, Harrogate’s testing site in the car park on Dragon Road, which has the potential to offer the kits and perform PCR tests, will close on June 1.

Read more:

• No coronavirus fines despite huge party on the Stray
• Gyms: Excitement mounts but group classes still limited

The Stray Ferret asked a North Yorkshire coronavirus press briefing today about the closure and plans to find a replacement testing site.

Victoria Turner, public health consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“We have an agreement to keep the site in its current location until June 1. So we are fine to use it in its current form up until that point.

“I guess with the plethora of lateral flow options coming online, including things like the pharmacies, it is likely there will be a lot of other local options.

“It is still fairly early days with the pharmacies so we are kind of waiting to see what the spread is going to be like and whether we will need to encourage more to come in.

“So I think the lateral flow side will be covered by other routes. We are looking across the board at how PCR testing will work from June but there will be other options, including the mobile unit.”

Daily coronavirus statistics

The Harrogate district’s seven-day coronavirus rate remained at 11 infections per 100,000 people today.

The district recorded another six cases, after several days averaging two cases a day.

Harrogate District Hospital, which has six covid patients, has not reported any new coronavirus deaths today.

The last recorded death at the hospital was on March 29.