HOSPITAL bosses have praised a new coronavirus testing facility that is being set up in Bracknell.

The government has given the go ahead for a new Covid-19 Lighthouse Laboratory to be set up in the Bracknell Healthspace at Brants Bridge.

Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services (a collaboration between Frimley Health, Royal Berkshire, Royal Surrey and Ashford and St Peters NHS Foundation Trusts) will run the service.

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It will form part of NHS Test and Trace, joining Britain’s largest network of diagnostic testing facilities increasing coronavirus testing capacity by tens of thousands a day throughout the critical winter period.

The Brants Bridge Laboratory is expected to process 40,000 tests a day when at full capacity and also create around 300 new jobs for local people.

Acting CEO of the Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust, Nicky Lloyd said: "We feel honoured to be able to play an extremely significant role in the effort to meet the growing demand for testing for a virus that has impacted the lives of so many across the county.

“As an anchor institution responsible for the health and care of our communities and committed to the wider wellbeing of our local population, it is also pleasing to be able to announce that this state of the art facility will provide jobs for up to 300 people.

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"Anyone who is interested in a role with us should email lighthouse@royalberkshire.nhs.uk or visit our website at www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk for more details."

Managing Director of BSPS Nic Newman said: “We are very pleased to have been chosen as a new site for a Lighthouse Laboratory and to be playing a key role in the work to tackle this pandemic.

"It’s an added bonus that the new Laboratory will create hundreds of new jobs for our local community.”