Coronavirus testing rationed as demand stretches drive-through services to limit of capacity

The government has been accused of rationing coronavirus tests, amid reports that some people are being told to head distances of more than 100 miles to the nearest available centre.

This comes as health secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News that the testing system “works well” but has “operational challenges from time to time”.

A BBC postcode analysis of the government’s booking service suggests that people in some areas are being directed to testing sites a long way from their homes, as areas with higher infection rates are reportedly being prioritised.

In one case, the broadcaster said that people living in London who showed signs of coronavirus could be asked to go to centres up to 135 miles away.

Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast: "If people need a test, the vast majority get it quickly and close to home.”

"But when those testing centres are full then obviously people are offered a test at the nearest place where one is available,” he added.

The health secretary’s comments came on the day that he announced a £500 million support package to increase testing capacity.

Among other causes, the money will help upscale the trial of a 20-minute test in the south of England.

However, Professor Alan McNally, from the University of Birmingham, said testing capacity should have been expanded earlier in the year.

Prof McNally told BBC Radio 4: "I don't think the time is right. I think the time was right to think about scaling up testing to the wider community and asymptomatic testing over the summer when we were relatively Covid-secure, knowing that autumn and winter would come.”

"Ideally we would be far more advanced in our ability to handle what we're already beginning to see, an increase in requirement for Covid testing and respiratory infection testing,” he added.

Additional reporting from Press Association