A TEACHING assistant has told of the nightmare her family endured while trying to get her seven-year-old brother a Covid-19 test.

Jemma Perry, 20, and her mum Nuala feared the worst when seven-year-old Alfie, who has a slight asthma condition, arrived home from school in Meavy with a high temperature, a chesty cough and rapid breathing.

They contacted 111 and were told to book a coronavirus test, but it took three days for an appointment to become available at the Exeter park and ride test centre, at 9-9.30am.

When they got to the centre, they were asked if they had a code, but were told it was not a problem after they said they hadn’t but had booked an appointment. Jemma said it was when they spoke to another member of staff that their problems started.

She said: ‘He again asked us if we had a code, and we again explained not, but we had a booked appointment.

‘He said sarcastically “Well you won’t be getting a test today, then” and added: “You need to leave and go book an appointment again.”.

‘My mum continued to explain that we had an appointment and there was no mention of a code. The man said: “Look around, just look”, referring to the many cars around us, then laughed, walked away and ignored my mother trying to regain his attention.’

Jemma, who lives with her family in Yelverton, said other people also appeared to be in the same situation.

She added: ‘When we booked the appointment, there was no mention of a code. We managed to book another appointment in St Austell, but this time we received a code via email.

‘Alfie is getting better, but we’re still waiting to hear if he’s positive or not. We wanted to share this because it’s being made out it’s easy to get a test and it isn’t. The whole thing was an ordeal.’