Testing of NHS and Social Care Staff

The hon. Member raises concerns about mental health ward closures in his constituency, suggesting that now is the time to reconsider temporary closures and reopen wards like Kentmere Ward to meet growing mental health needs.

The hon. Member highlights severe issues with cancer services, pointing out figures such as 2.1 million people waiting for breast or cervical screening tests, a decrease of 70% in treatment rates for chemotherapy and significant drops in surgery and radiotherapy treatments.

Asked whether the Opposition were calling for weekly testing no matter what or only if necessary, indicating confusion about their stance.

Welcomed the Scottish Government's move to ensure social care workers who contract covid-19 are given additional funds on top of statutory sick pay.

Acknowledged praise from Jon Ashworth for his stance on NHS staff testing, indicating support for the proposal despite being a Conservative MP.

Recognised efforts made in areas such as PPE and acknowledged the valuable role of private healthcare in unlocking the economy. Suggested additional proposals to support NHS recovery beyond regular testing for staff.

Intervened to highlight figures from Cancer Research UK indicating that between 21,000 and 37,000 daily tests are required across UK cancer services alone to catch up on treatment delays.

Defended the Government's efforts during the pandemic, focusing on the construction of Nightingale hospitals and the financial support provided for social care. She mentioned that 58% of care homes have had no reported cases of coronavirus and that there is a sustained reduction in the number of deaths.

Asked what steps the Government are taking to protect black, Asian and minority ethnic health and care staff during the pandemic.

The Labour MP asked the Minister to encourage those suffering from vascular disease to seek appropriate treatment promptly.

This Labour member questioned the validity of testing figures presented by the Government, suggesting that after removing certain factors such as double tests or those sent out via post, only a third of the claimed number of tests are actually reflective.

The Liberal Democrat MP emphasised the necessity of regular testing in care homes and NHS sites, not just for symptomatic individuals but also those asymptomatic, to ensure safety and normalcy in health services.

This speaker engaged with the Minister to clarify whether weekly testing of all NHS staff was considered an appropriate clinical intervention based on current advice.

Expressed gratitude for NHS and care staff during the pandemic, highlighting their superhuman effort. Advocated for fair working conditions, including a real living wage and death-in-service provisions. Mentioned Scotland's Test and Protect system, which has allowed them to enter phase 2 of lockdown easing. Emphasised the need to value public servants through better pay and care.

Asked Richard Thomson about Scotland's performance in testing, noting they are only meeting a third of their capacity for daily testing.

Recognises the progress made in test and trace but highlights the challenge of not knowing where about two thirds of new infections are happening. Advocates for a dramatic expansion of testing capacity, proposing weekly testing for NHS frontline workers and care staff to reduce nosocomial infections and support the return to normal levels of NHS activity.

Responds to Jeremy Hunt's speech, suggesting that if the Government cannot meet testing capacity targets due to resource constraints, it would be understood. However, he questions whether the chief medical officer's advice is correct and suggests that the Health and Social Care Committee should inquire about this.

Expresses gratitude to NHS staff in Barnsley for their efforts during the pandemic. Raises concerns about the backlog of non-coronavirus care and calls for a strategy to address this. Stresses the importance of a functioning test and trace system for NHS staff, arguing that without it, existing health inequalities will worsen. Highlights specific issues affecting former miners with underlying respiratory conditions.

Our NHS has done a remarkable job during the pandemic. It is crucial to protect staff and patients through PPE and testing, and address delayed operations and treatments. The Government's lockdown measures were necessary and successful in preventing hospitals from being overwhelmed. Capacity was increased with former workers returning and new agreements made with private sector hospitals. There is now a need for a national effort to clear the backlog of procedures. The NHS must become more productive through technology use and changes in care pathways.

The coronavirus crisis has reaffirmed Labour's belief that the NHS is crucial to our country. We have been fortunate with critical care capacity but routine care has suffered, leading to a backlog of 2.4 million people waiting for cancer screening or treatment and understaffed histopathology departments. Early intervention in cancer care significantly impacts outcomes, and there may be nearly 18,000 excess cancer deaths next year due to the pandemic. Before the pandemic, NHS staffing levels were already low with high stress among staff. Mental health services are underfunded, leading to many people failing to get help despite increased need.

The motion is about addressing the backlog of care and operations, winter preparations, and testing capacity. The decision to stop track and trace initially was wrong but has since been corrected with increased capacity for symptomatic and asymptomatic testing. Winter preparation needs medium-term investment in new hospitals and care facilities, such as a £500 million development scheme for south-west London, which Labour opposes despite its benefits.

Pays tribute to health and social care workers. Expresses concern about the impact of COVID-19 on people with vascular disease, citing statistics such as 15% to 20% of British over-70s affected by peripheral artery disease leading to painful leg ulcers and amputations. Calls for a routine weekly testing programme for NHS staff to restore patient trust.

Agrees with the hon. Lady that urgent referral is critical in preventing limb loss due to peripheral artery disease during the crisis.

Emphasises the growing need for timely diagnosis and treatment, citing a 'tsunami of unmet need' in vascular services. Proposes creating safe, COVID-19-negative pathways for vascular disease patients and highlights regional inequalities with Hull residents 46% more likely to require major amputations.

Expresses support for Tracey Crouch who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Praises the work of healthcare and care home staff during the pandemic, highlighting positive progress in Moray without any new deaths in seven days. Criticises SNP's handling of testing capacity and urges them to match their testing capacity.

Praised the efforts of frontline workers and criticised the government for their slow response in implementing testing, highlighting a quicker response from Sheffield teaching hospitals. Emphasised the need for national routine testing regime for NHS staff to prevent spread of infection. Criticised Serco's track and trace contract due to lack of expertise and previous data breaches. Advocated for expert-informed tracking system, social distancing measures, PPE supply, care home testing, maternal health services, and long-term diagnosis planning.

Expressed thanks to NHS and social care workers in Worcestershire. Paid tribute to Julie Omar, a nurse who died from covid-19. Highlighted innovation in organisation, treatment, and testing during the crisis. Pledged for continued organisational innovation with a leader like Lord Deighton. Mentioned UK scientists discovering dexamethasone's role in treatment and suggested home oxygen saturation monitors for patients instructed to stay at home. Requested updates on rapid saliva testing methods to enable airline industry recovery.

Thanked NHS and care workers for their sacrifices during the pandemic, stressing the need for PPE and testing. Criticised lack of timely tests for care home staff and residents, advocating for full independent public inquiry. Called for further scale-up in testing health and social care staff weekly or regularly. Highlighted mental health concerns among frontline workers and children due to prolonged absence from formal education. Urged fast-track access to mental health services and a cross-departmental Government plan for supporting children's mental health.

Coronavirus exacerbates social differences and health inequalities for black and ethnic minority communities. NHS plans to move services away from these areas despite the increased risk of contracting and dying from coronavirus. The community in Mitcham and Morden is more likely to have diabetes, hypertension and a higher maternal mortality rate than white counterparts. The speaker calls on the government to intervene and recognise the importance of black lives.

Acknowledges the risk that coronavirus presented to NHS staff and praises their work. Emphasises the need for ongoing recognition of NHS staff's efforts beyond the pandemic. Highlights challenges in delivering testing and tracing, especially within health and social care settings as services return to normal. Urges caution regarding mandatory weekly testing without sufficient evidence.

Calls for proper and efficient ways of providing NHS staff with necessary testing, highlighting the lack of PPE and high death toll among BAME NHS workers. Urges the government to heed advice on testing and risk assessments crucial for protecting staff, patients and families. Raises concern about excess deaths in care homes (93% higher than normal) and the need for quick provision of testing kits.

Paid tribute to NHS and social care staff, noting over 300 deaths due to covid. Criticised the Government's slow response on testing and PPE provision which led to cancelled appointments and health risks for patients. Urged for regional testing for NHS and social care staff and a plan for safe resumption of services.

Supported the point made by Abena Oppong-Asare about the need for rapid advancement in testing systems to avoid potential second spike. Did not provide independent contributions beyond this support.

Paid tribute to NHS and care staff, noting data limitations in recording deaths among them. Emphasised the need for routine testing of healthcare workers and mental health support during recovery. Highlighted the surge risk in unrelated conditions due to suppressed diagnoses and urged proactive measures for winter preparedness.

It is a great honour to speak in this important debate on testing for NHS and social care staff. I would like to take this opportunity to put on record the boundless thanks of the people of Witney and West Oxfordshire for everything that social care staff and the NHS have done to care for them throughout this crisis. We have now performed more coronavirus tests than any country in Europe, except for Russia. Given the point we started from and the challenges we have had to overcome, that is a significant accomplishment. I welcome the fact that we are now in a position where any care worker who needs a coronavirus test can apply for a priority test, but I want to look at how we can do better for them. We need to look at what we can do in the future and whether Public Health England could have done more to sponsor and bring on that partnership at an earlier stage. Antibody testing is not a silver bullet; however, Abbott has developed a coronavirus antibody test with a specificity and sensitivity of greater than 99%. I am delighted that PHE has now assessed and approved it. The Government have rightly increased their investment in that test and signed a contract to provide over 10 million antibody tests in the coming months.

I am proud to speak in this important debate on the heroic efforts of NHS staff throughout the covid-19 crisis. While I miss my former colleagues, I now have the opportunity to sing their praises from these Benches and defend the NHS whenever possible. We come together at a difficult time for our nation as we continue to grapple with the effects of covid-19. In making that commitment, I would like to pay tribute to all those working in our NHS in Newport West, in Wales and up and down the UK. As we approach the 72nd birthday of the NHS, to those workers I say: thank you for your compassion and sacrifice. A much more useful thank you would be the delivery of a decent pay rise to ensure that those on the lowest pay in the NHS can be lifted out of poverty. We mourn with all those who have lost a loved one due to covid-19, particularly from black and minority ethnic communities. The first 10 doctors to die in the UK were from BME backgrounds.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the health staff in North Devon and the exemplary leadership that has been shown, particularly by our director of public health, Dr Virginia Pearson. The NHS trust looked after one patient with the virus for a full 75 days in intensive care before enabling them to go back home again. I am very fortunate in my constituency to have a remarkable woman, Michaela Willis, who used to run the National Bereavement Partnership and is now reforming it during this pandemic. While thinking about people who have taken extraordinary steps perhaps beyond their normal role, I would like to take the opportunity to thank Applegate and its chief executive Stuart Brocklehurst for setting up a non-commercial covid-19 hub that has helped those small new producers of PPE in the UK match them with supply.

It seems like a very long time ago, but I remember making a visit to Ipswich Hospital in February, before the lockdown... The mental health aspects of covid will be with us for a lot longer than the virus itself, and it is important that we do everything we can to confront this issue head-on across society in the coming months and years... However, when looking to confront that nationally, we should still look to do everything we can to keep orthopaedic services as local to patients as possible.

It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Ipswich... All the feedback that I have had from people who have been in the hospital has expressed a massive thanks to all the NHS staff on the Isle of Wight... We are one of the hospitals testing dexamethasone, if I have said it correctly, which is potentially a fantastically good treatment for covid. We are also one of the health authorities piloting the use of telemedicine... The crisis in care homes has brought home the importance for us all of ensuring that our social care is fit for the 21st century.

I thank the Labour party for bringing this debate to the House and praise NHS staff across the UK, especially in Northern Ireland. The number of families suffering due to the loss of loved ones is more than 40,000. The recent advice in Northern Ireland has been clear about shielding pausing at the end of July but emphasises that the war against coronavirus will not be won until a vaccine is available. Accurate testing and regular testing for NHS staff are crucial as cancer services have been devastated by the pandemic with a backlog developing of 2.4 million people needing care.

I congratulate the hon. Member for Tooting on securing this debate about testing. I thank all staff at the Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, including those in the pathology lab at St Richard’s who have done 7,000 antibody tests already with a capacity of 1,000 tests per day. The trust has been rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission twice consecutively.

I am grateful for the dedication seen throughout the pandemic in my community, including frontline staff in the NHS, social care, food production, manufacturing, and transport. The Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust launched a mental health urgent response line and expanded the health and wellbeing support line. Over 7,000 staff at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust were tested, with around 13% showing antibodies to covid. I support the Government's testing measures and recognise that test and trace is important in stopping transmission of the virus.

I pay tribute to frontline staff, including NHS and care staff who have paid the ultimate sacrifice during the pandemic. I also express my concern for a friend suffering from cancer.

NHS and care staff have made immense sacrifices during the pandemic, facing the deadly virus head-on while others stayed at home. The Government's failure to provide adequate PPE has led to unnecessary deaths among frontline workers. Mental health support is urgently needed for healthcare workers who have lost patients and colleagues on an unimaginable scale. Children and young people also need prioritised mental health care as they return to school. The government must prepare now with a long-term plan to cope with the expected surge in demand for mental health services.

Asked the Minister to respond to her question regarding guidance on death certificates for those suffering from industrial diseases, requesting that anyone with an industrial disease has it recorded on their death certificate.

Highlighted innovations in PPE manufacturing and telemedicine services. Noted the first effective treatment to save lives and praised the testing capacity of 280,000 tests daily.

Did not make a full contribution but requested a response from the Minister on an unspecified issue.