Agenda item - Local testing sites

Agenda item

Local testing sites

Minutes:

Mandy Clarkson, Consultant in Public Health, gave an update on the establishment of Local Testing Sites.  She highlighted the following information:

 

a)  A Mobile Testing Unit is currently located at the Forest Recreation Ground.  It is the second time that the Unit has been placed there and it seems to be a good location.  Additional mobile testing capacity has been requested from the region and its location will be reviewed depending on the latest rates of infection.

 

b)  There is a desire to develop longer term solutions to ensure good testing coverage.  The focus will be on local, urban communities so that everyone has access even if they don’t have access to a private vehicle. 

 

c)  The Regional Testing Site is due to be relocated to County Hall.

 

d)  Four Local Testing Sites are being created on university campuses. They are either operational, or soon will be.

 

e)  Local Testing Sites will all look slightly different as they will be tailored to suit the specific site.  They can be indoor or outdoor, but as the winter is approaching porta-cabins are being explored as suitable options.

 

f)  In identifying suitable locations for the sites, a review has been carried out of current access to testing.  Most City residents have been accessing testing at the regional centre at the Motorpoint Arena, as a home test or going to a Mobile Testing Unit.  However, this information doesn’t tell us about those who have been unable to access testing and there is no way of knowing about this.  Other considerations include levels of car ownership, areas with lower access to services, the number of positive cases.  Areas with the highest number of cases and highest rates of positivity will change, but information on patterns is available which is less subject to change.

 

g)  There are some population groups with particular needs, such as ability to use websites, approach to health needs etc, to take into account.  These population groups include migrant communities, asylum seekers, areas with high levels of population churn, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.  There is also softer intelligence available about particular local communities that need support.

 

h)  Nine sites have been submitted to the Department for Health and Social Care for provisional approval as sites for a Local Testing Centre.  These areas are Bulwell, Bulwell Forest, Aspley, Bilborough, Hyson Green, Berridge, St Anns, Dales and Clifton East.  Once approval has been given, work will take place to identify suitable sites.  This work will be done in conjunction with the Council’s Property Team.

 

During subsequent discussion the following points were raised:

 

i)  Additional testing is welcomed.

 

j)  There will be a need to work with local communities potentially identified as a site for a testing centre as there may be local concerns.  Community centres are just starting to reopen and consideration needs to be given to the impact on that work.

 

k)  The testing sites don’t need to be in a building.  They could be porta-cabins in a car park.  There will be signage to ensure that people know where to find the testing site and can go straight there.  Safety issues will be considered as part of the approval process.

 

l)  Early signs of improved testing turnaround are being seen.