Key worker told coronavirus results had been 'lost' after long trip to test centre

A key worker embarked on a four-hour round trip to get tested for coronavirus - only to be told a week later the results had been lost.

The Nailsea resident, who works at an NHS-funded facility, developed flu-like symptoms at the start of the month and secured a slot at one of the government's testing sites.

Even though Bristol Airport has a drive-thru testing site, she was told the nearest available slot at short notice was in Salisbury.

The woman and her husband, who asked not to be named, said they travelled for two hours there and another two hours back to have the swab test.

Nine days passed without a result coming through, despite the government's aim people should receive results within two days.

Her husband said: "We didn't hear anything until Wednesday, May 13 and the guy on the phone said the results had been lost.

"Alarm bells started going off in my head. He said hundreds had been lost and I thought 'this isn't right.'"

Contrary to the phone conversation, he said his wife then received an email a few days later reporting her results had come back as inconclusive.

He said it seemed "strange" to be told one thing and then another, adding: "I think that email was just a cop-out."

His wife was invited to return to Salisbury Park and Ride to get re-tested, but they were reluctant to take on the trip again and instead were sent an at-home test kit.

That swab was sent off at the weekend and the result is yet to come through.

The man said he "does not want to make a fuss" but he questioned how many people had also been unable to get results due to lost tests.

Tens of thousands of people are being tested for coronavirus every day, and there have been some reports of lost results elsewhere.

The Guardian has heard from people whose results had been lost from the test centres at Wembley and at Chessington World of Adventures.

The Department of Health and Social Care, which oversees the government's test sites, told Bristol Live it was unable to comment on individual sites or tests.

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A spokesperson said: "As we tackle this virus we are determined to make it fast and simple for all eligible people who need a test to get a test.

"In addition to setting up a nationwide network of drive in testing sites, we have also introduced home testing kit delivery and deployed mobile testing units operated by the Armed Forces.

"1.8 million people have now been tested in the UK and the vast majority report no issues with the process."

Background information supplied by the Department continued: "Isolated operational issues in our lab network have impacted the total number of samples that could be processed.

"We have worked to resolve these problems and capacity has been restored. It is not surprising when a system is brand new, as this one is, that there will be some teething problems in the first weeks of operation."

Anyone with coronavirus symptoms can now apply for a test via the NHS website, but essential workers can still get priority testing via the gov.uk website.