Bracknell's new coronavirus testing lab will be complete very soon, new plans reveal.
Dubbed as The Lighthouse Laboratory, Bracknell's Healthspace at Brants Bridge will play its part in the fight against Covid-19.
Bosses at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust revealed the new testing lab will be open in January, and it will run 24/7.
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In a bid to meet the governments coronavirus testing target, the site plans to process up to 40,000 tests a day.
Building work has already begun.
The lab will process Covid-19 tests from drive-in centres and home tests taken across the south east.
It will significantly boost testing capacity in the region and be part of Britain's largest ever network of diagnostic testing facilities.
Will there be job opportunities?
Bracknell's testing lab wants to recruit 300 people.
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That’s about 170 people supporting logistics (drivers, unpacking and receiving samples, booking samples into the IT system and so on) They also need100 scientists to support testing of the samples and about 30 supervisors and managers.
The jobs will be full time and part time.
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.
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust added: "We are looking for people interested in joining the NHS, budding scientists, those on a year out, and those wanting to try something new and make a difference."
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