On Friday 12 February Jon Cruddas MP for Dagenham and Rainham received a letter from the Department of Health and Social Care providing an update on the provision of coronavirus testing in the constituency.
Free and accessible testing is a cornerstone of the NHS Test and Trace service which brings together testing, contact tracing and outbreak management. The letter announced the opening of a new Regional Test Site on Selinas Lane in Dagenham.
The new Selinas Lane site which opened on Saturday 13th February, is a drive-through service which will offer both assisted and self-administered tests for people in Dagenham and Rainham and the surrounding areas.
Jon Cruddas MP said: "anything we can do to improve accessibility of testing and vaccinations is a step in the right direction. I welcome this new test site which due to its location should not have a negative impact on local residents or businesses in the area."
Before selecting the site, the Department of Health and Social Care engaged with local government and public health stakeholders to narrow down the location and identify a suitable site. The chosen location will be part of a network of Regional Test Sites across the UK which are working to support existing NHS and Public Health England infrastructure.