Thread by @JayneMcCubbinTV

Wow
If you need more evidence of #TestingScandal we relocated to another test site in Bolton which chief exec thought opened at 8. It didn’t exist
We went to another due to open at 8
It didn’t exist
He has no idea if, where or when these test centres will open 🤯@BBCBreakfast

And remember this is Bolton the #Covid capital of the UK
They have no idea what the private contractors are doing and even key workers yesterday couldn’t get a test for love nor money @BBCBreakfast

Just want to make that point again
The chief exec of the covid capital of the country has no idea if, where or when 2/4 test facilities will be put back into place here
He had no idea they were gone
Somethings going v badly wrong with this system @BBCBreakfast
World beating?

A local called Mike has just walked over after seeing our earlier report @BBCBreakfast “someone somewhere is making an awful lot of money out of this mess”

Latest from council ... those sites in Bolton WILL reopen .. but later today
More @BBCBreakfast after 9

1 of Bolton’s centres has capacity to test 400 ppl
On Saturday the private contractors never showed up to open it
On Sunday only 40 ppl were tested there
Last night the local hospital warned ppl to stay away because they were being inundated with test requests
@BBCBreakfast

There’s frustration, poor communication, anger and that’s despite daily briefings between the private providers the DfH & LA
With covid figures rising daily
@BBCBreakfast

Walk in test centre did indeed open but already turning ppl with no appt away
Interesting 1 woman told even if she had appt & CRUCIALLY a QR code for, say, Inverness, she could still come back here
It’s the code that guarantees lab can turn test around not location @BBCBreakfast

But walk in centres certainly not walk in here
That’s all weekend now, in covid capital where rates are 190 per 100,000 and rising
Where the hospital has put out urgent appeal for ppl NOT to go there as they’re being inundated with test requests @BBCBreakfast

They’re waiting for ppl to arrive with an appt... but I’ve just gone on line to tell the site I’m a frontline worker from Bolton who needs an appointment & I got the standard come back later “this service is v busy” response ... no ones arrived with an appt yet
@BBCBreakfast

Everyone’s being paid to provide a service they can’t provide, their hands are tied, in the county’s covid capital
Bonkers
One woman just arrived, to be turned away as no appt “I understand ... I’ll try again later... you’re doing a great job. Thankyou” @BBCBreakfast

Cars starting to queue
If they’ve appointment they’re in, if not, they’re out
One worker”we’re trying our best but we do what we’re told to do. Front line workers turn up and we can’t help them.Can you imagine how frustrating that is? We just want to do our jobs” @BBCBreakfast

Final update-all 4 test centres up and running but no walk in offer
“Go on line & check, check, check again. Yesterday afternoon 150 appts came up in one chunk. We just have to wait & see what we get”
Off home to kip bye all 👋
@BBCBreakfast

Final thought
This is all about the lab results. Not tests. The labs can’t cope with the volume of tests.
Now ... Remember something like 97%+ tests will come back negative
I read dead interesting article on innovation in Africa which processed 25 tests in one go... 1/2

If it came back + they did each test again individually
But ... If - (and stats say vast VAST majority will be /) they’ve just shifted 25 tests in one go 👊
Ace innovation speeding up processing there
Could do with a bit of that here?