Hundreds of parents gathered at an abandoned mobile site in Edgbaston after authorities directed them to an “empty car park” for a coronavirus test for their children. Parents urgently seeking tests for their unwell children had initially secured a slot from health authorities on Tuesday - September 15.
But on the following day as they travelled to get a swab test, they only discovered an abandoned car park. NHS signs advising people to “only enter with an appointment” had been left stuck to a fence at the former Tower Ballroom car park.
Samantha Moore expressed her frustration on Twitter, "Finally managed to get a Covid test booked for my 14-year-old at the former Tower Ballroom car park in Edgbaston. No test centre on site and a lot of confused and frustrated people milling about looking for it.
"There are no directions upon arrival. Some people had walked up and down Osler Street and couldn't find any sort of test centre. The derelict car park opposite the cafe was gated and locked, no mobile unit inside. There was a lot of people in that street looking for the test centre and it was nowhere to be seen."
In response, Birmingham City Council said, "Sorry to hear this. We are not involved in the running of mobile testing sites but we'll make sure to alert relevant partners to the issue."
Preet Kaur Gill, Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, has assured that she would be “escalating” this matter and address to the concerns of these worried parents.
