Published on Wednesday 18 November 2020
A new Covid-19 Mobile Testing Unit is due to open in Boscombe on Tuesday 24 November.
The new facility in Hawkwood Road will provide increased access to testing for residents in the Boscombe area who may find it hard to access existing testing sites.
Until recently, local people were served by the testing centre at Creekmoor, which is only accessible by car, and mobile testing sites at Weymouth, Bridport and Dorchester on a rotating basis, accessible by both car and on foot. A mobile testing site in Wallisdown was introduced last month as well as a local testing site at Lansdowne, which is walk-in only. The latest testing unit in Boscombe will be particularly accessible for residents to the east of Bournemouth. All tests must be booked in advance via the national portal at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
The mobile testing unit will be calling at Hawkwood Road in Boscombe starting from Tuesday 24 November. It will operate from 10am – 3pm on the scheduled days. It will be accessible by both car and on foot. Availability will be posted on the national portal, which is the only way to gain appointments at the unit. Signage will also be in place.
Cllr Nicola Greene, BCP Council portfolio holder for Covid Resilience, Public Health and Education said:
"I am pleased that in addition to our regional testing centre in Creekmoor, we have additional testing facilities here in the BCP Council area. Having these extra facilities at Boscombe, Lansdowne and Wallisdown offers increased accessibility and reassurance for our residents, particularly those who may not have access to a car."
Rachel Partridge, Assistant Director of Public Health for Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Councils, said:
"Identifying and isolating cases quickly is critical to controlling the spread of COVID-19. We have been working with partners to identify the best places for new sites to ensure Dorset residents can access testing when they need it.
"Anyone who develops any symptoms of COVID-19 – a new, continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss or change of taste or smell – should book a test online and self-isolate with everyone in their household or support bubble whilst they wait for the result."