Coronavirus: Stratford walk-in centre shelved in favour of home testing

Work on a coronavirus walk-in centre that was expected to open this week in Stratford has stopped, the NHS has confirmed.

It is understood that health bosses will instead focus on ramping up home tests across north-east London, an approach that would significantly lower the chances of infection through people travelling to and from centres.

Around 100 home tests were carried out this Wednesday, according to the NHS North East London Commissioning Alliance (NELCA).

A drive-through testing hub also opened this week at the Pickets Lock Lee Valley Athletics Stadium for people working in the NHS or care settings who display symptoms.

Cllr Chris Kennedy, who leads on health for Hackney Council, said this week that NELCA had informed the Town Hall that the expectation had been to see a walk-in centre at Stratford this week, but that this would no longer happen due to “practical difficulties”.

NELCA has since revealed that work on the Stratford centre will no longer progress after the opening of the Lee Valley site, as well as the continued drive to prevent further infection by pushing home testing.

Speaking on Wednesday evening, Cllr Kennedy said: “They’ve been working on a walk-in at Stratford and making helpful suggestions there, but when I spoke to the clinical commissioning group this morning on a conversation with the Mayor, at the NEL level they are saying that they are encountering some difficulties in finalising Stratford.

“They had been talking about having it online as a walk-in this week. That is no longer certain, unfortunately.

“At some point down the line, surely we as a local authority will have some part in what must be very necessary contact tracing and testing, possibly.”

Anne Canning, director of community health for Hackney, then added that home testing is “the latest development” and stressed that it would be “a much safer way of doing it altogether”.

The Athletics Centre drive-through facility can also be used by those sharing a home with NHS workers who are symptomatic, with testing carried out on a pre-booked basis.

Those attending their tests at the Centre need evidence of their appointment, with a booking confirmation letter paired with a photo ID.

Cllr Nick Sharman said: “It seems to me that whatever system that emerges in the medium term, the role of local outlets to these is going to absolutely crucial, and I can see the council performing an important role.

“It’s an absurd idea that in a borough where less than a third of people have cars, that the only testing facility requires a car access, it’s grotesque. Clearly we have to address that issue.”

A spokesperson for NHS North East London Commissioning Alliance said: “There is now a national centre at Lee Valley, close to Stratford. North East London was the first to pilot home testing and this has been more popular than expected, with well over 100 tests being carried out on Wednesday 22 April.

“This facility does not require people with Covid-19 symptoms having to travel, potentially on public transport.

“We are not currently progressing with a Stratford testing site but we are reviewing options regularly to ensure capacity is meeting demand.”