Bradford coronavirus regional testing centre to open for key workers

A drive-through coronavirus testing facility is open from Wednesday 29 April 2020 at the University of Bradford Great Horton Road car park as part of the Government’s UK-wide drive to increase testing for thousands more NHS and other essential workers.

The site sits alongside a rapidly expanding network of testing sites being set up around the UK, and is operating on an appointment-only basis for NHS staff and other key workers. The facility will be piloted for its first few days of operation.

This follows the launch of the Government’s partnership with universities, research institutes and companies to begin rollout of the network of new labs and testing sites across the UK, with 36 regional testing sites opened to date.

This network will provide thousands more PCR swab tests - which are used to identify if you currently have the virus - for essential workers, starting with NHS front line staff. This means those who test negative for coronavirus can return to work as soon as possible, and those who test positive are able to recover.

Professor Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford, said:

“The University of Bradford is pleased to be able to host the Bradford Coronavirus Regional Testing Centre. This is one of a number of initiatives that the university is engaged with in support of the response to the Covid-19 emergency including: the provision of PPE to our health and social care partners, the design and manufacture of faceshields to protect hospital staff, and most importantly the deployment of 400 of our nursing, midwifery, paramedic and other health and social care students in frontline health care roles.”

Health Minister Lord Bethell said:

“The Government is rapidly scaling up the national effort to boost testing capacity for coronavirus to protect the vulnerable, support our NHS, and ultimately save lives.

“This new service will help end the uncertainty of whether NHS and social care staff and other essential workers need to stay at home, meaning those who test negative will be able to return to work.

“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.”

Professor John Newton, National Coordinator for the UK Coronavirus Testing Strategy, said:

“New testing sites such as this one are a key pillar of our 5-pillar plan to scale up testing, and are critical in supporting NHS staff and other frontline workers 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 across the UK by the end of the month.”

The testing centre is being operated in partnership with G4S and Boots and will offer assisted and self-administered tests. Those tested will receive their results within a few days.

*Please note this is not a University of Bradford facility. For details of how to book a test, please see the Government’s guidance.