"Nearly blind" 78-year-old told to take 250 mile round trip for Covid-19 test

4 September 2020, 11:47

"Nearly blind" 78-year-old told to take 250 mile round trip for Covid-19 test

By Fiona Jones

A nearly blind 78-year-old woman who doesn't drive was told to take a 250 mile round trip for a Covid-19 test before an eye operation - she couldn't get to the test centre so couldn't have her operation, her neighbour told Nick Ferrari.

Brits with coronavirus symptoms are being forced to drive more than 100 miles to be tested after access to kits “dried up” in parts of the country.

Public health experts fear the lack of testing could lead to developing hotspots being missed.

Caller Gail from St Albans told Nick Ferrari that her 78-year-old neighbour who is nearly blind has to have a Covid-19 test before her cataract operation - however, her nearest centre will involve a 250 mile round trip.

Read more: Caller told to travel 341 miles for a Covid-19 test

"She has been told to go to Great Yarmouth, 125 miles away, she doesn't drive and lives on a pension so she can't afford to pay to have it done privately.

"So she stands the risk of not being able to have her operation," Gail said.

The caller told Nick that when the elderly lady questioned this, the NHS responded that "management will sort it".

"Management haven't managed to sort it out in time because she will have to quarantine after a test before her operation and so she now perhaps goes down the waiting list because she can't get her operation," Gail said.

Gail told Nick her poor neighbour was at her wit's end as she needs this crucial eye operation.

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

LBC reacts: King Charles will tell Macron there are 'no borders' between UK and France

LBC reacts: King Charles will tell Macron there are 'no borders' between UK and France

LBC callers are divided over proposed wealth tax

‘Preposterous’: LBC callers are divided over proposed wealth tax

Nick Ferrari

‘Lessons haven’t been learned’ following 7/7 London bombings

A new 'Labour' party, Nigel Farage, and shoplifting | LBC's best callers of the week

A new 'Labour' party, Nigel Farage, and shoplifting | LBC's best callers of the week

"What's the risk?" LBC caller Steve wants to give a new party a chance

"What's the risk?" LBC caller Steve wants to give a new party a chance

Nigel Farage takes your calls

Nigel Farage takes your calls with Nick Ferrari

Nick Ferrari caller

Caller Mark says the government has ‘destroyed’ the Labour Party

Caller Comp

LBC Callers react to Glastonbury IDF controversy

Nick Ferrari callers debate

Nick Ferrari callers go head-to-head over pro-Palestine protests

Nick Ferrari caller

Caller Martyn says the UK needs a ‘Trump-style figure’ in power

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed a vote on 'progressive' welfare reforms will take place on Tuesday.

Nick Ferrari struggles to keep a lid on the conversation with caller Craig about benefit claimants

Call the Commissioner

Call The Commissioner with Sir Mark Rowley

Nick Ferrari and caller Eve

Nick Ferrari and caller Eve go back and forth over the Middle East conflict

LBC caller Paula drives home the impact of PIP benefit cuts

LBC caller Paula drives home the impact of disability benefit cuts

'Iran has a democratic candidate, unlike Iraq...'

Iraqi caller explains why Iran-Iraq comparisons fall short

It's not fair

Nick Ferrari loses his patience with caller over ‘non-dom’ tax scheme