Tooting residents asked to swab themselves in the street in surge test for coronavirus

Tooting residents are being asked to swab themselves in the street as part of the surge coronavirus testing in Wandsworth, according to the local MP.

Labour health spokesperon, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan raised concerns yesterday about the "appalling" surge-testing system run by test and trace, and said she "feared for its effectiveness."

She said the only testing site in her consituency, at Tooting Leisure Centre, only has capacity for fewer than 700 people a day, despite approximately 105,000 residents living there.

She said this needs to be scaled up "urgently."

She also criticised reports that people queuing for a test were being handed kits and asked to swab themselves while waiting in line.

"Given the PCR tests require a tonsil swab, asking people to do this standing up, without any guidance or a mirror – is shocking. It'll create many invalid tests," she said.

The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment.

Yesterday (April 14) Wandsworth council said it was "grateful" to the thousands of residents who had come forward to get tested.

It admitted the scale of the response had resulted in "frustrating" waits, with many people struggling to secure appointments at testing sites.

It announced three more testing sites are opening today and 23 pharmacies are taking bookings for PCR tests.

These new sites are at Putney Leisure Centre, a car park rear of 67 Fernlea Road, and a car park rear of Martley House, Patmore Street.

Residents can still get tested at the original sites at Mount Clare House in Roehampton, Tooting Leisure Centre, and Wandsworth Town Hall Car Park.

They can also collect home tests from Battersea Sports Centre and Wandsworth Town Hall.

You can book an appointment here or call 020 8871 6555 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm for help.

You can also can order a home delivery of a PCR test as part of the variant of concern surge testing in the borough.