A DORSET man secured a coronavirus test for his daughter by “playing the system”.

David Nock, 40, wanted to book a test after his seven-year-old daughter was showing symptoms but the government site was showing no availability for Creekmoor in Poole.

However, after changing his postcode on the website and booking a test at a Glasgow site, Mr Nock managed to use the QR code sent to him to secure a test in Poole.

Mr Nock said: “We were struggling for days to get through the government system, it is designed to fail you have “We put in a postcode for Glasgow and went through the process. They had appointments all day.

“I got the confirmation through e-mail, the key is getting the QR code, it doesn’t matter at all, you know you are going to have a test.

“I screenshotted the email, deleted the address then went to the test centre and they asked to see the email.”

Mr Nock, from Boscombe, said the staff asked to scroll down but he said he showed them all he was sent.

“I went through without any problems,” he continued.

“The QR code is nationally registered and they scanned that.

“I reached out with this because I know there are frontline workers not getting tests.

“We were the only people there, nobody is getting through the system.

“There was about 100 staff there, it feels like a theatre show to be honest.

“The guys were well rehearsed, presumably because they have been sat not doing a lot.”

Mr Nock added: “As long as you get that QR code you’ll get a test.

“I wanted my daughter tested and back to school, I wanted her educated.”

A department of health and social care spokesperson said: “NHS Test and Trace is working and our capacity is the highest it has ever been but we are seeing a significant demand for tests including from people who do not have symptoms and are not otherwise eligible.

“New booking slots and home testing kits are made available daily for those who need them and we are targeting testing capacity at the areas that need it most, including those where there is an outbreak, and prioritising at-risk groups.

“Our laboratories are processing more than a million tests a week and we recently announced new facilities and technology to process results even faster.

“If you do not have symptoms and are not eligible to get a test you can continue to protect yourself if you wash your hands, wear a face covering and follow social distancing rules.”