30 April 2020
COVID-19 Testing

A new temporary coronavirus testing station has been set up in Lowestoft for people who are eligible for testing through the Government’s national portal.

The Waterlane Leisure Centre site is being offered alongside testing stations that are also bookable via the government’s national site, at Copdock near Ipswich, Stansted and Peterborough.

Appointments must be booked in via https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested

This is a new choice for eligible people* living in Waveney or elsewhere.

At this stage the centre will run until Saturday although there are discussions taking place to see if this can be extended.

 

However essential workers such as care home staff and teachers also have the choice to book a test at three other centres in Norfolk (James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, Centrum Centre near the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn).

Appointments for these locations cannot be booked using the national portal, they must be booked using a local system:

  • People working in the hospitals should use their organisation’s internal arrangements
  • NHS employees should email NHScovidtesting@nnuh.nhs.uk
  • All other essential workers including care home staff: Ask your employer/line manager to email NorfolkRegistercovidtesting@nnuh.nhs.uk  with their name, job title and contact number. The registration team will contact them to register your organisation so you can then book an appointment. Your employer will be given a unique reference number and the contact details for your triage.

 

*Testing is available to many more people than before. As well as NHS patients, staff and care staff the following people can ask for testing:

  • essential workers with symptoms (see the full list of essential workers)
  • anyone over 65 with symptoms
  • anyone with symptoms whose work cannot be done from home (for example, construction workers, shop workers, emergency plumbers and delivery drivers)
  • anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus and lives with any of those identified above.