UK shortage of trained lab technicians reaching ‘crisis point’

Covid-19 testing is struggling due to lack of staff, private sector experts argue

A shortage of skilled laboratory technicians is a looming crisis in the UK’s labs and could “severely impact” the country’s ability to meet demand for Covid-19 test results, experts have warned.

Andy Lord, chief executive of the Manchester-based think tank and technology training firm Credersi, said that there were “simply not enough trained and skilled lab technicians and quality assurance technicians across the UK”.