A range of locations are now being used around Cumbria to encourage people to access testing for Covid-19 in Cumbria.
As well as established centres in Penrith, Preston and Newcastle, there are also mobile military testing sites that rotate around Cumbria. They are part of the national testing scheme and must be booked through the national portal here https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test
The mobile military testing units spend two or three days in a community, and rotate locations to ensure access around the county.
Major Alan Goodenough is from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. He said: “It has been really important that we can get right around the county and we know people appreciate the opportunity to have a test close to home. We are always busy, but want to ensure more people know about the opportunities so people can access them when they need to.”
Details of how to access all testing available to people across the whole of Cumbria can be found at: https://www.northcumbriaccg.nhs.uk/covidtesting
In June the military mobile units will be at:
Barrow – BAE site, Waterside car park LA14 2TF 20-21 June
Carlisle – Carlisle Swift Bank Car Park, Swift Bank, Carlisle CA1 1JG 14-17 June, 22-23 June, 29-30 June
Grange-over-Sands – Public car park behind Nutwood Medical Centre, Kents Bank Road, Grange-over-Sands, LA11 7DJ 10-11 June, 18-19 June, 26-28 June
Haverigg (Millom RUFC) – Millom LA18 4GY 21-23 June
Kendal – Kendal leisure centre carpark, Burton Rd, Kendal, LA9 7HX 9-11 June, 18-21 June,
Keswick – Derwent Pencil Museum, Southy Works, Keswick CA12 5NG 12-13 June, 15-17 June
Kirkby Stephen – Upper Eden RUFC Westgarth road, Kirkby Stephen CA17 4TF 18-19 June, 29-30 June
Workington – Lillyhall, County Council Highways Depot Parking Services, 1 Joseph Noble Rd, Workington CA14 4JX 14-17 June, 24-25 June
You can book a slot here: https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test
Essential workers can book a slot here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-essential-workers
Swabbing is an uncomfortable procedure and young children may find it upsetting Children should only be booked for swabbing if they are likely to have had contact with someone who is COVID positive in the previous 14 days. Younger children with a fever may indicate other childhood illnesses, so it is advisable to refer to https://111.nhs.uk/ or call your GP surgery for guidance before booking a test.
There is also a range of other testing activity underway. This includes:
- Locally-commissioned testing
- NHS Trust staff are able to access testing through their own organisation.
- Locally agreed arrangements to test residents and staff of Cumbrian residential or nursing homes
- Self-testing kits can be ordered online
