Events, recipes & behind the scenes gossip from the Showground

Back to blog

Filter News

Lincoln Coronavirus regional testing centre to open for key workers at Lincolnshire Showground 24 Apr

A drive-through coronavirus testing facility is to open at Lincolnshire Showground as part of the Government’s UK-wide drive to increase testing for thousands more NHS and other key workers.

The site sits alongside a rapidly expanding network of testing sites being set up around the UK, and is operating on an appointment-only basis for NHS staff and other key workers. The facility will be piloted for its first few days of operation.

This follows the launch of the Government’s partnership with universities, research institutes and companies to begin rollout of the network of new labs and field testing sites across the UK, with 29 regional testing sites opened to date.

This network will provide thousands more PCR swab tests - which are used to identify if you currently have the virus - for critical key workers, starting with NHS front line staff. This means those who test negative for coronavirus can return to work as soon as possible, and those who test positive are able to recover.

Health Minister Lord Bethell said:

“The Government is rapidly scaling up the national effort to boost testing capacity for coronavirus to protect the vulnerable, support our NHS, and ultimately save lives.

“This new service will help end the uncertainty of whether NHS and social care staff and other key workers need to stay at home, meaning those who test negative will be able to return to work.

“This is a national effort and we are proud to be working with a number of partners to turn this ambition into a reality and roll out additional capacity to where it is needed.”

Professor John Newton, National Coordinator for the UK Coronavirus Testing Strategy, said:

“New testing sites such as this one are a key pillar of our 5-pillar plan to scale up testing, and are critical in supporting NHS staff and other frontline workers who are isolating at home to return safely to work if the test is negative.”

“This is a brilliant example of industries and businesses turning their resources to creating and rolling out mass testing at scale, which will help to deliver on our aim of carrying out 100,000 tests a day across the UK by the end of the month.”

The testing centre is being operated in partnership with Serco and Boots, and will offer assisted and self-administered tests. Those tested will receive their results within a few days.

Jayne Southall, CEO of Lincolnshire Showground said:

“Lincolnshire Showground is delighted to be supporting this important initiative and will be doing all we can to support the agencies involved in the fight against Covid19”

Kevin Craven, Serco CEO for UK and Europe said:

“We are pleased to be supporting the Government and the NHS in setting up and managing the new testing centre in Lincoln as well as the testing centres we are already operating.

“I would like to pay tribute to my colleagues who have worked extremely fast and professionally, and with the other organisations involved, to set up these centres having deployed from other roles within Serco. I know that they are proud to be doing their part in helping the country tackle coronavirus

A Boots UK spokesperson said:

“Boots has been at the heart of UK healthcare for 171 years and has always come forward to support the community in times of need. Our team in Lincoln is no exception. Some of our colleagues have already stepped forward to volunteer to run this COVID-19 testing station, which will start testing its first critical workers on Saturday.”

The Government is also urgently working on setting up a home-testing service for critical key workers, supported by Amazon's logistics network and other commercial partners.

More from this category

Back to blog
Lincolnshire Agricultural Society gets set for a 'Show-Stopping' 150th year!
Lincolnshire Agricultural Society gets set for a 'Show-Stopping' 150th year!

Celebrating its 150th year in 2019, the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society is hosting a number of fun, family friendly and exciting events at the Lincolnshire Showground, as well as branching out into Lincoln centre to mark its milestone anniversary.

21 Mar
Lincolnshire Show - times, tickets and all you need to know!
Lincolnshire Show - times, tickets and all you need to know!

You know it’s the start of summer when the Lincolnshire Show is in town. Returning for it’s 134th year - under a special RAF 100 theme for 2018 – it’s set to be the biggest and best yet, but what are the details?

11 Jun
Introducing our Grow With the Show winners.. Mantle!
Introducing our Grow With the Show winners.. Mantle!

The shipping container: some may call it an eyesore, a rusty monstrosity, but to a local couple from Metheringham it is a classic piece of design, awaiting modification to create usable, customised space

16 May
Lincs Show 2019: Smiles, sun and special celebrations filled the Showground
Lincs Show 2019: Smiles, sun and special celebrations filled the Showground

Thousands of visitors flocked to the Lincolnshire Show this week in a mix of sun hats and wellies, to experience the county’s biggest show to date and celebrate 150 years of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society.

24 Jun
A Century of Iconic Tractors
A Century of Iconic Tractors

We are inviting people to help to put together a display of tractors from the last century or so for our Main Ring parade at the Lincolnshire Show on 22nd and 23rd June 2022.

04 Feb
BeVox: Elemental 6th April
BeVox: Elemental 6th April

This Saturday, 6th April, Lincolnshire Showground will be the venue for “Elemental” – a world-first multi-sensory choir concert produced by local choir BeVox. BeVox’s musical director, Timothy Allen, fills us in on how preparations have been going.

03 Apr
St Barnabas announced as Charity of the Year
St Barnabas announced as Charity of the Year

The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society will be working alongside St Barnabas throughout 2020.

03 Feb

Get the latest from The Showground