Hospitals outside London face FOUR DAY wait for coronavirus test results

Hospitals outside of London face four-day waits for coronavirus test results.

When the number of potential cases rapidly increases – as it has already done in London – hospitals outside the capital could face an ‘apolocalypse’ because of the lengthy wait for confirmation.

Britain’s coronavirus death toll rocketed by 260 to 1,019 today as the UK suffered its worst day yet.

Results in London can come through as quickly as 24 hours from the time of testing.

A Cambridge University Hospitals consultant said results came through in three to four days – in contrast to the Trust’s claim it takes just 39 hours, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Hull Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeing results come through in 72 hours, reports suggest.

Staff have been told to stop ringing the lab for results as the number of calls was ‘overwhelming’.  

Chessington World of Adventures car park has been turned into drive-thru swab centre to test NHS staff for coronavirus 

 

Six lanes have been set up at the children's entertainment park for health workers to drive in to from the main road

Six lanes have been set up at the children’s entertainment park for health workers to drive in to from the main road

Signs for testing instructions as temporary buildings are erected for coronavirus testing for NHS workers in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures

Signs for testing instructions as temporary buildings are erected for coronavirus testing for NHS workers in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures

The Cambridge consultant said: ‘People just don’t get the apocalyptic nature of this situation.’

After increased pressure, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the number of tests carried out per day will be increased to 25,000. 

Germany is doing about 500,000 tests per week. 

A spokesperson from the Hull trust said the infectious diseases department – responsible for getting the results – had had ‘an issue’. 

A Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: ‘Our turnaround time for Covid-19 samples is now within 39 hours, which is longer than we would want it to be.

‘We are following the Public Health England guidance on personal protective equipment.’ 

The government announced yesterday that it would be rolling out tests for NHS staff from next week in an attempt to boost numbers on the front line. 

Chessington World of Adventures car park has been turned into drive-thru swab centre for medics. 

Hospitals have been recording staff absence rates of up to 50 per cent as staff or members of their households develop symptoms which means they are forced to self-isolate as they do not know if they are safe to work.

Michael Gove, who was standing in for the prime minister at the daily briefing, said: ‘Increasing our testing capacity is absolutely crucial in our response to and our fight against coronavirus.

Michael Gove, who was standing in for the prime minister at the daily briefing, (pictured) said: 'Increasing our testing capacity is absolutely crucial in our response to and our fight against coronavirus'

Michael Gove, who was standing in for the prime minister at the daily briefing, (pictured) said: ‘Increasing our testing capacity is absolutely crucial in our response to and our fight against coronavirus’

‘This is a particular priority for those who work in the health and social care sector and are working so hard to keep us all safe.’

The tests for NHS employees will start with those who are critical care medics or intensive care staff but will also include those working in emergency departments, ambulance services and GPs. 

Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, said that as testing volumes increased the service would be expanded to cover a range of essential public workers such as social care services. 

There are currently more than 6,200 confirmed coronavirus patients in hospitals across England and a further 846 patients have been treated in intensive care since the start outbreak began.

There has been a largely positive reception to the announcement that NHS staff will be tested for Covid-19 but experts have since warned that a false negative rate of up to 10 per cent could mean infected staff are incorrectly allowed to return to wards. 

It is understood Chessington (pictured) is one of a number of new sites preparing to take samples from NHS workers, allowing those who test negative to return to work

It is understood Chessington (pictured) is one of a number of new sites preparing to take samples from NHS workers, allowing those who test negative to return to work

It means thousands of doctors and nurses could be tested at sites such as Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey, where a facility has been set up in the car park. 

Six lanes have been set up at the children’s entertainment park for health workers to drive in to from the main road.

They stay in their cars as medics in protective clothing take a swab from their nose and throat to be tested for Covid-19.

It is understood Chessington is one of a number of new sites preparing to take samples from NHS workers, allowing those who test negative to return to work.

NHS England's medical director earlier this week warned testing must be ramped up to hundreds of thousands per day to catch up with the crisis. Pictured: Facilities at Chessington

NHS England’s medical director earlier this week warned testing must be ramped up to hundreds of thousands per day to catch up with the crisis. Pictured: Facilities at Chessington

Pictured: The temporary buildings and portacabins that have been erected for testing NHS workers for the deadly coronavirus in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures today in Chessington, Greater London

Pictured: The temporary buildings and portacabins that have been erected for testing NHS workers for the deadly coronavirus in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures today in Chessington, Greater London

A source told The Sun: ‘This is what the public, the experts and the medics have been crying out for in the past few weeks.

‘Testing is so important and, if this helps the heroes on the frontline do their jobs, it could be a massive game-changer.’

Testing of frontline staff has become a contentious issues in the weeks since the coronavirus began sweeping through the UK. 

NHS England’s medical director earlier this week warned testing must be ramped up to hundreds of thousands per day to catch up with the crisis. 

Patients can stay in their cars as medics in protective clothing take a swab from their nose and throat to be tested for Covid-19

Patients can stay in their cars as medics in protective clothing take a swab from their nose and throat to be tested for Covid-19

After days of intense pressure, the PM said the number of tests carried out per day would increase from around 5,000 to 25,000, and NHS staff would be prioritised. Pictured: Chessington site

After days of intense pressure, the PM said the number of tests carried out per day would increase from around 5,000 to 25,000, and NHS staff would be prioritised. Pictured: Chessington site

Pictured: Chessington World Of Adventures resembles a ghost town after being forced to close today under government instruction due to Coronavirus on 21 March, 2020

Pictured: Chessington World Of Adventures resembles a ghost town after being forced to close today under government instruction due to Coronavirus on 21 March, 2020

On March 19 UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed a dramatic escalation of the country’s coronavirus testing capacity.  

After days of intense pressure, the PM said the number of tests carried out per day would increase from around 5,000 to 25,000, and NHS staff would be prioritised.

However, the full ‘surge capacity’ might not be ready for another four weeks – by which time the deadly crisis could be at its peak.  

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