Mobile testing for people showing symptoms of Covid 19 is a vitally important tool in the effort to fight this pandemic effectively.

Oldham Borough has been highlighted as a location where a rise in cases of the virus over the past two weeks has placed Oldham Borough at risk of significantly increased restrictions should the spike not be addressed, not to mention the potential of residents falling ill, infecting others, and potentially dying as a result of being unaware they have contracted the virus.

Shaw Ward Councillors in consultation with public health colleagues managed to secure the promise of a mobile testing facility on Shaw market ground over the last week, arriving on Tuesday 4th August and again on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th.

Subsequently the Unit failed to turn up on Tuesday, despite appointments having been booked via the testing website, attended Thursday as agreed, and again failed to turn up on Friday until after 3pm, again despite tests having been booked.

On each day, despite assurances that residents were unable to simply attend and receive a test without an appointment, there is plenty of evidence that shows that people were able to do so.

Additionally residents who tried to book a test via the 119 system were told that Shaw did not have a testing site.

These issues have been raised by Councillor Howard Sykes with the appropriate agencies and subsequently the National Team responsible for Covid Testing have declared these failures as a major incident.

Howard Sykes said ‘ Shaw and Crompton residents have been treated like second class citizens, the whole process has been a farce and totally unacceptable. I have received assurances throughout the week that these issues were being resolved but as of 5pm Friday I am still unaware of how this vital service that saves lives will improve or even be available to Shaw residents moving forward. I have demanded answers and I expect the response to be 100% improved next week, it is simply not good enough’.