Lee Valley Athletics Centre in Picketts Lock — Lee Valley Athletics Centre in Pickett’s Lock

Report by Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

A centre providing coronavirus tests for frontline health and care workers has opened in Enfield.

The drive-through facility at Lee Valley Athletics Centre in Pickett’s Lock is open to key workers with symptoms of Covid-19, as well people who live in the same household as them.

Testing is only available to people with a booked and confirmed appointment letter at the specified time. Those using the centre must produce a copy of their booking confirmation letter along with photo ID.

Appointments can be booked online at feedback.camdenccg.nhs.uk/camden-ccg/ncl-covid-19-staff-testing-drive-thru/

The news was welcomed by Enfield Council’s leader, Nesil Caliskan, who recently urged the government to ramp up testing after warning coronavirus cases in care homes were “rapidly increasing”.

Her plea came a day before the tragic death of care worker Sonya Kaygan, who worked at Elizabeth Lodge Care Home in Winchmore Hill.

Cllr Caliskan said: “This is a helpful start, but we will not rest until all of our 5,500 frontline care sector workers in Enfield have been able to access tests as a matter of urgency.

“We will continue to call for more testing and a clear process for all frontline care workers, NHS staff and other key workers to be able to book appointments for tests going forward.

“We are calling for more sites for testing in Enfield so testing of frontline key workers can be made more easily accessible.”

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