Supplies being delivered to the Covid-19 testing centre at MacHale Park in Castlebar. PHOTO: ALISON LAREDO

Covid test centre at Mayo GAA HQ is ‘a slick operation’

The drive-thru Covid testing centre at MacHale Park in Castlebar is working very well and being run as a ‘slick operation’, according to Breda Crehan-Roche, Chief Officer, Community Healthcare West.

In reply to a query from Mayo Fianna Fáil Councillor Martin McLoughlin as to whether there were enough testing facilities available to Castlebar hospital, Ms. Crehan-Roche said the drive-thru testing facility based at An Sportlann is providing an excellent service.

She said: “I visited there myself last Friday. It was really busy but there was a very slick operation in place and it was well run. We have a lot of positive feedback in relation to it.”

Asked by Councillor Michael Kilcoyne as to whether just one place for testing was sufficient in Mayo, which would mean someone from Belmullet having to come to Castlebar for testing, she added: “Testing is at McHale Park but on-site at other locations, for example in nursing homes, meat plants and wherever we are on site. We are also looking at other locations because, obviously, the GAA is wrapping up their matches and so forth.

“At the moment MacHale Park testing centre is open from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. There are five bays, two people per bay, and there would also be back-up.

“There is a national campaign for community swabbers and we hope to have on board those and redeploy the therapy staff back to HSE frontline services, which is badly needed. Tests are collected each day and forwarded to Enfer Laboratories in Naas for analysing.

“In a case where it may be an older person requiring a test, or if someone is unable to come to the drive-thru or has health issues, the National Ambulance Service will go to the individual person’s houses and the test can be taken at their home. Each case is taken on its own merits.”

Meanwhile, a temporary testing centre was set up at the County Clinic, Castlebar, for a number of days as the McHale Park facility was unavailable.