Boots says it will offer “convenient private testing for those without symptoms” to help ease pressure on the NHS and government testing programmes.

Back in March the pharmacy chain helped the government roll out testing of NHS workers in just over a week.

The Boots testing service is already available in total of 10 stores in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow for customers travelling to UAE. Results are usually available within 48 hours.

The service is available as a private pre-flight testing service for customers who require a test before travelling abroad.

Boots says it is also an accessible solution for those who would prefer peace of mind before seeing friends and family.

Seb James, managing director of Boots UK and Republic of Ireland, said: “Boots has supported the government’s Covid-19 testing programme from the very start and offering this new in-store service is the next step in our efforts to fight against the pandemic.

“We hope that by offering this testing option in local community stores, Boots can help ease pressure on the NHS and the government by providing additional access to testing and crucial reassurances for people across the UK. As part of the UK High Street for over 170 years, Boots is proud to serve on the front line alongside the NHS and we will continue to do our part to support the nation’s healthcare needs during this challenging time and beyond.”

To obtain a Covid-19 test, patients can fill out a registration form and follow the instructions to book an appointment through the Boots online portal, available through boots.com.

Once in store, a testing-trained member of Boots’ team will do the swab test, package the swab and send it to a laboratory to be tested, with results usually available within 48 hours.

Boots is also planning to roll out a new testing service using the LumiraDx device which has the ability to provide a Covid-19 swab test result within just 12 minutes.

However, this test is not currently approved as a pre-flight testing service, which requires a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and for results to be processed via a registered laboratory.

Last week saw rapid Covid-19 tests start being offered at Heathrow Airport for £80.