Plymouth teenager given Covid-19 test appointment in Inverness
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A Plymouth teenager is the latest south of England resident to be offered a test at his "nearest" coronavirus testing centre – in Inverness, 641 miles from his home.
He is one of apparently hundreds of people from all over the country being directed to Inverness when trying to book a Covid-19 test online.
The teenager's mother took to social media to tell how she went on to the government website on Monday to book him a test "just to be sure" as he had a high temperature and a slight cough.
Filling in her address details she says she was first directed to a testing site in Wales, then Manchester and, thirdly, Inverness.
She was finally offered a test in Plymouth hours later. It is believed the teenager's test was negative.
The director of Public Health for Plymouth, Dr Ruth Harrell, said there is a national issue with the Covid-19 test booking system and the issue has been raised with the Department of Health and Social Care "as a matter of urgency".
If people with Covid symptoms can’t book online, they are being advised to call 119 for advice.
