Key workers in Norfolk with Coronavirus symptoms are now able to get tested in three new test centres in King's Lynn, Norwich, and Gorleston.
Testing will take place at three locations in Norfolk and Waveney:
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn (QEHKL)
- The Centrum centre, Norwich Research Park (close to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH)
- The James Paget University Hospital (JPUH) in Gorleston.
Local hospitals and the Norfolk & Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group have worked hard to expand local testing capacity for key workers like teachers and food industry staff. By increasing local testing capacity these critical workers can remain in work and continue to support their communities without having to self-isolate. The new testing facilities will also be open to key workers' household members.
This new testing capacity is in addition to national services, and offers alternative locations which may be more convenient than the major NHS centres in Ipswich, Stansted, Peterborough and elsewhere. The service is being managed collaboratively on behalf of all three Norfolk & Waveney hospitals by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
Huge thanks are owed to the team of scientists at Norwich Research Park who have helped to provide this major boost to local Coronavirus testing. The NHS have been working in partnership with the Earlham Institute, John Innes Centre, The Sainsbury Laboratory, Quadram Institute Bioscience, the University of East Anglia, Eastern Pathology Alliance and the Cotman Centre.
HOW TO BOOK A NORFOLK & WAVENEY COVID-19 TEST
- Find out if you are a key worker, which include many people working in education, transport, many public services, energy, power and water/sewerage workers, and those working to provide, distribute or sell food. The precise definition is available on this government web page: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested#key-workers
- If you are a key worker, ask your employer or line manager to register for the service by emailing [email protected] with the employer's name, job title and contact number.
- The registration team will contact your employer to register the organisation.
- Once an employer or line manager has applied on behalf of a key worker and/or their family, they will be issued a unique reference number and further instructions.
- All applications will be checked to make sure people are well enough to attend a testing centre, and eligible for a test in line with Public Health England guidance.
- People who are confirmed eligible for testing in Norfolk and Waveney will be given an appointment at one of three drive or walk-through centres at the Centrum centre (close to NNUH), at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn, or at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston. You will be directed to your nearest swabbing centre by the central triage team:
- People will receive their test results within 48 hours or less, either directly or via their employer’s occupational health service, together with initial advice about to what to do next.
ARRANGEMENT FOR HEALTH AND CARE WORKERS
Health and care workers employed by an Acute Hospital should use their organisation’s own arrangements.
All other health and care workers such as care home staff, GPs, pharmacists, ambulance etc should email [email protected] with your name, job title and contact number – the triage team will contact you to arrange next steps.
APPOINTMENTS AT IPSWICH, STANSTED, AND PETERBOROUGH OR OTHER CENTRES
If you wish to be tested at any of the national drive-through testing centres, such as Ipswich, Stansted, Peterborough and elsewhere, then you must use the national booking service. For self-referrals, this is via https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk.
