A COVID-19 testing centre has been opened at Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s airbase, in Semington, enabling South Western Ambulance Service staff and their families to take a swab test.
The testing facility will be open from 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday, and is geared towards mobilising South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) employees.
Ben Abbott, Wiltshire Air Ambulance critical care paramedic and operations officer, said: “SWASFT staff who have family members with symptoms are required to isolate, stopping them from doing their job.
“This testing centre will allow those staff members and their families to take a test and, subsequently if the test comes back negative, the SWASFT staff member won’t have to isolate and can continue working on the front line in these unprecedented times.”
Wiltshire Air Ambulance is purely the host for the testing centre. A crew from SWASFT will operate the ‘drive-thru’ service, allowing people to take the test without needing to leave their cars.
Jane Whichello, SWASFT Deputy County Commander for Wiltshire, said: “We are grateful for Wiltshire Air Ambulance to allow us to use their facilities for this important testing which will help us return our colleagues to work and keep ambulances on the road to serve the people of Wiltshire.”
The testing centre will be an appointment-based service and those being tested will be selected and approached by SWASFT. It will also be available to Wiltshire Air Ambulance pilots, paramedics and staff.
