New coronavirus testing machine set to arrive in Wrexham to boost regional laboratory capacity by 288 tests per day

A new machine is expected to arrive in Wrexham to boost the number of coronavirus laboratory tests which can be carried out in North Wales by 288 per day.

The region currently has the capacity to process 800 samples per day taken from patients with symptoms of COVID-19 at a lab based at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan.

However, a report by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) shows there are concerns over lengthy delays in turnaround times for antigen testing and some specimens are still having to be sent to facilities in south Wales.

Public Health Wales (PHW) previously explored the possibility of temporarily relocating a device which was intended to be placed in Gwent to improve the number of tests which can be analysed in the north.

After it was decided it should be kept at the original site, it has been confirmed another machine is now due to be installed in Wrexham within the next fortnight instead.

Together with a similar model put in place in Bangor last month, it will increase the area’s overall testing capacity by 576 per day once they are fully operational.

The problems encountered and subsequent arrival of new equipment are detailed in a report set to go before senior health board officials later this week on the Welsh Government’s Test, Trace, Protect (TTP) programme.

Teresa Owen, Director of Public Health for Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board, said: “The focus of this next period is to ensure the testing work, the contact tracing work, and ‘protect’ work come into one overall programme.

“The main risks are (that) business as usual elements are a concern, as staff are currently redeployed to support the sites in North Wales. A programme of recruitment is underway.

“BCUHB is working with PHW Lab colleagues in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd given some concerns regarding long delays and testing out of turn underway.

“The turnaround time dashboard is awaited, but due to be shared this week.

“The financial costs of the testing work are being collated in readiness for Welsh Government discussions.”

Ministers have recently allocated funding of up to £11.2m which is expected to cover the costs of contact tracing in the region up until the end of March next year.

Flintshire Council is acting as the main employer for contract tracers and contact advisers following an agreement between the six local authorities.

The TTP system has already been called into action to deal with two significant coronavirus outbreaks at food factories in north Wales.

Although the incidents have now largely been brought under control, hundreds of workers tested positive for the potentially deadly virus at the Two Sisters plant in Llangefni, as well as Rowan Foods in Wrexham.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter