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From Sussex To Isle Of Wight: Mother's 90-Mile Mission For Coronavirus Test

A Sussex mother's desperate search for a coronavirus test resulted in a 90-mile journey to the Isle of Wight.

After daughter Emma - who has Cystic Fibrosis - fell ill, Jane Roberts, from Lewes in East Sussex, said she was advised to book in a test.

Attempts to do so at nearby sites proved unsuccessful, and the Government's online booking website pointed her towards the Island.

The results came back negative, but Jane said the overall process - which included two ferry trips - was "just ridiculous".

Jane said:

"Emma's respiratory team told us to get a test done because she was unwell.

"I don't think they knew the problems of getting a test done and they have been quite shocked by this.

"We went online as Government suggests, I was on there for about five hours.

"The booking opened up and they just went before my eyes. 

"There are centres in Bexhill which isn't far from Lewes in East Sussex and there were some in London, Canterbury and the only one I could get was the Isle of Wight."

It comes days after More Radio reported a man in Eastbourne's cancer treatment was delayed because he couldn't get hold of a test.

Director of Public Health for the Isle of Wight advised people to keep trying to book a test locally.

Jane said that is not always possible.

She added that not only did she have to worry about her daughter but also potentially infecting others on the Island:

"When you've got a person with Cystic Fibrosis, you've got this worry of what will the virus do with someone with Cystic Fibrosis.

"It's not just a matter of sit there and wait, we had to get this done immediately...

"...I had the worry of what if I infect how many people on the Isle of Wight? I felt guilty, I felt awful.

"It was like walking round with the plague in some ways."

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