A BRADFORD District Coronavirus test centre is one of the top performing sites of its kind in the country.

The staff-testing site at Marley Fields Sports Centre in Keighley has so far tested more than 2,000 health and social care staff from across Bradford and Craven. Half of these tests have been given to staff who work in care homes across the region.

Having launched in mid-April, testing at the site is now available for to all frontline health and care staff in the area, including those working in care homes. It also tests police and fire service teams, although it is not open to the public.

New coronavirus testing centre opens in Bradford

Bradford Council says the site, classed as a satellite service, is now one of the top three performing services of its kind in the country, and carries out more tests than any other satellite site in West Yorkshire.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, said: "This site plays an important role in our local fight against coronavirus. Testing over 2,000 frontline staff, including those working in care homes, in such a short space of time since launch is a tremendous achievement.

“Having a local NHS-run testing centre on our doorstep has been really important in keeping health and care services running as smoothly as possible."

“It has added an extra dimension to supporting the health and wellbeing of frontline staff who are working hard to care for their patients and residents at this challenging time in our fight against the virus.

“There has been a lot of positive feedback about the site from staff coming for tests, saying that it’s been very a quick and simple process.

"This is testament to the hard work of the staff who have volunteered to work at the site and those involved behind-the-scenes to get the site set up.

“On behalf of the whole community, I’d like to thank everyone working in health and care, whether in our hospitals, GP practices, care homes or voluntary sector, for their continued hard work during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I would also like to take this chance to remind everybody to stay at home as much as you can. All the latest information about coronavirus can be found at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus”