Ashfield MP says track and trace was 'first class' for him - and the Prime Minister

It was a productive meeting and I am confident that this Government will deliver the investment our area has been crying out for now for decades.

However, just 24 hours later back at home I noticed a loss of taste and smell, I had no other symptoms and felt fit and healthy with no real cause for concern.

A few hours later my wife started to develop chest pains and was suffering from a severe headache.

As my wife has been through a double lung transplant and suffers from cystic fibrosis it was vitally important, we both got a covid test for our own safety and others around us.

Less than an hour after calling 119 we were both pulling up, in separate cars to the covid testing centre at West Nottinghamshire College and within 18 hours we had both received a text message to inform us we both had covid-19.

After following the instructions on the text message I was able to fill out the track and trace form which asked me about all the people I had been in close contact to in the 48 hours before developing symptoms and just a short time later all the contacts from my track and trace had been contacted and instructed to isolate for 14 days, including the Prime Minister.

Track and trace has come in for some criticism recently, but I have to say that it was first class when I needed it and I cannot praise the system high enough with how it dealt with me and my wife from start to finish.

Apart from the loss of smell and taste I feel really well which just goes to show that the virus is lurking and we may not always know that we have i.

Therefore it is vitally important that if you do show any symptoms then you should get a test straight away.

Luckily no-one else in the meeting at number 10 has showed any symptoms which comes as no surprise as safe working distances were obeyed throughout the meeting.

The number of messages I have received wishing my wife and I well has been overwhelming, and it is nice to know that people out there really do care and take the time and effort to make contact and send best wishes.

It is also comforting to know that once again the staff at Kings Mill Hospital are coping incredibly well and through their hard work and dedication they are once again fighting and winning the war on Covid.

I personally spoke with Richard Mitchell the chief executive of Kings Mill last week to get a full update and pass on my sincere thanks to all staff.

I have said it before and will say it again, we are incredibly lucky to have this brilliant hospital right on our doorstep.

Lee Anderson is MP for Ashfield.