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Covid-19 Update
17 September 2020
Lead MP
Matthew Hancock
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
NHSSocial CareEmploymentBenefits & Welfare
Other Contributors: 50
At a Glance
Matthew Hancock raised concerns about covid-19 update in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matthew Hancock, made a statement regarding the UK's winter preparedness against coronavirus. Noting an alarming rise in cases, especially in the north-east region with Sunderland recording 103 new cases per 100,000 population, he announced tighter restrictions in Northumberland, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and other areas to control the virus and keep people safe. The government has allocated £2.7 billion to bolster the NHS during winter, alongside measures such as expanding emergency departments with an additional £150 million for 25 hospitals, improving the role of NHS 111 through a £24 million investment in call-handling capacity, and rolling out the NHS 111 First scheme from December. Additionally, over £540 million will be extended to adult social care providers to protect residents in care homes from infection control measures.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Delyn
Question
Mr Hancock, given that inequalities in accessing healthcare can worsen health disparities, how will you ensure that the NHS 111 triage system does not exacerbate these inequalities? Furthermore, if this initiative increases demand on primary care services, will GPs receive additional resources to manage such pressures?
Minister reply
The Secretary of State acknowledged concerns about healthcare access and inequality but emphasised the need for a more efficient service. He assured that measures are being taken to ensure fair access and that any increase in GP consultations would be supported with appropriate resource allocation.
David Davis
Con
Haltemprice and Howden
Question
Given the rise in cases, particularly in areas like the north-east, what additional measures is the government taking to support businesses in these regions affected by tighter restrictions?
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that financial assistance packages are being considered for businesses impacted by local lockdowns. He emphasised the importance of following public health guidelines while also addressing economic challenges faced by businesses.
Lucy Frazer
Con
Weston-Super-Mare
Question
What steps is the government taking to improve testing capacity, particularly in light of the current shortages and long wait times for results?
Minister reply
The Secretary of State outlined plans to expand testing infrastructure by setting up more commercial Lighthouse labs. He also addressed concerns about voided tests and acknowledged ongoing issues but pledged continuous improvement and oversight.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Denton and Reddish
Question
I thank the Secretary of State for advance sight of his remarks. The capital investment for 25 A&Es will be welcome. On the piloting of the 111 triage ahead of A&E, given inequalities in accessing healthcare for the poorest and disadvantaged, how will the Secretary of State ensure that it does not worsen health inequalities? If it leads to greater demands on primary care, will GPs be given extra resources as a consequence?
Minister reply
To respond to the constructive questions that the hon. Gentleman raised, I welcome his comments on the use of 111 First. The purpose of 111 First is to improve access, including in terms of inequalities in the NHS, by ensuring that people get the right treatment in the right place and easier access if they do need to go to an emergency department, because the emergency department will know that they are coming. It sits alongside 999, which anybody should call in a serious incident.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Denton and Reddish
Question
The NHS is facing a likely second spike, winter pressures and a monumental backlog in non-covid care. The Chancellor promised to give the NHS “whatever it needs”. Does that promise still stand, and will the NHS get the funding it now needs to tackle the growing backlog in non-covid care?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman asked about the need for extra funding for the NHS, both for winter and for testing. I have just announced £2.7 billion of extra funding for the NHS, and he might have done better to welcome it. He talked about tackling the backlog of cases that inevitably built up in the first peak. The good news is that we are making progress on tackling that backlog and reducing it. Of course, there is an awful lot of work to do, and part of this extra funding will go towards that, alongside the funding to expand our emergency departments, the funding for PPE and the funding for testing that I mentioned in my statement.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Denton and Reddish
Question
On social care, can the Secretary of State guarantee that care homes will not face the same personal protective equipment shortages they faced at the start of the pandemic? Does he also accept that restrictions on family visits cause huge harm to residents? Does he rule out re-imposing nationwide restrictions on family visits?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman asked about PPE for care homes. We have a huge plan to ensure that care homes can get PPE, and the details will be set out shortly in the social care winter plan. He asked about family visits. The challenge of visits to those living in care homes is incredibly difficult, because nobody wants to spread coronavirus, but we also need to ensure that those who live in care homes get the support that they need and deserve.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Denton and Reddish
Question
The Secretary of State said little about testing this afternoon. Back in May he stood at the Dispatch Box and told the House that “everyone aged five and over with symptoms is now eligible for a test.” Just when many fear we are on the cusp of a second deadly spike, the Prime Minister admits we do not have enough capacity. Rather than fixing the testing, the Secretary of State is restricting it.
Minister reply
Of course there is a challenge in testing. The central point is that, contrary to what he said, capacity is at record levels and has increased week on week. The challenge is that demand has gone up faster—[Hon. Members: “No, it’s not.”] Those on the Opposition Benches can say, “No, it’s not,” but they cannot defy the facts. The most important thing for everybody across the country to hear from their elected representatives, if they are interested in helping the country get through this pandemic, is: if you have symptoms, get a test, and if you do not have symptoms, please do not come forward to get a test unless you are specifically asked to.
Jeremy Hunt
Con
Godalming and Ash
Question
Today is World Patient Safety Day, which I had the privilege of launching virtually with Dr Tedros of the World Health Organisation this morning. The changes that the Health Secretary is announcing to A&Es are about patient safety. As Dr Katherine Henderson told the Health Committee, if we go back to crowded A&E waiting rooms, patients will die, so I welcome these changes. May I ask my right hon. Friend specifically about sepsis? Our A&Es have made huge progress in testing people who need to be tested quickly for sepsis when they arrive at A&E. If that is now to be done on the phone—if that is the first point of contact—it is absolutely vital that 111 call handlers are properly trained and their algorithms adjusted to ensure that we ask the right questions on sepsis. Will he undertake to do that?
Minister reply
I wholeheartedly support the points that my right hon. Friend has made. I pay tribute to him for his work in establishing World Patient Safety Day and thank him for his ongoing work in the international arena, both representing our country and driving forward this agenda globally. I entirely agree with his comments about 111 First. It is absolutely critical that both the online and phone systems act to ensure that sepsis is recognised, wherever that is feasible, to ensure that people get the best and safest route to care. I will ensure that that point is registered.
Central Ayrshire
Question
Asks about the daily diagnostic testing capacity, confirms that the target of 500,000 tests a day by the end of next month is for antigen testing. Asks if laboratory capacity shortage will cause new outbreaks not to be detected early enough. Also inquires about the Aberdeen postcode issue and the moonshot project.
Minister reply
Responds that investing in future technologies is crucial, resolves the issue with incorrect postcodes used for tests, reiterates the principle of testing based on symptoms, highlights increased test capacity in Scotland, and emphasises collaboration between UK governments.
Robert Largan
Con
Erewash
Question
Asks about ramping up testing capacity urgently for constituents who are travelling over 150 miles to get a test.
Minister reply
Acknowledges challenges, confirms that there is sufficient testing capacity in Derbyshire and nearby areas. Prioritisation of tests to those most at need.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Question
Highlights the impact of the chaotic testing system on schools, teachers, and students who cannot get back to school due to lack of available tests.
Minister reply
Reiterates the importance of prioritising tests for those with symptoms and expresses the challenge in managing the spike in demand. Urges constituents to come forward if symptomatic.
Lucy Allan
Con
Telford
Question
Inquires about testing children under 16 who frequently exhibit symptoms but are unlikely to spread the virus.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the point, reiterates prioritisation of tests for those most likely to benefit from them.
Lilian Greenwood
Lab
Nottingham South
Question
Asks about allocating pre-distributed pillar 2 swab test kits to universities as they welcome students back.
Minister reply
Agrees to look into the matter and works with universities for a safe return.
Elliot Colburn
Con
Carshalton and Wallington
Question
Inquires about bringing more testing capacity closer to boroughs such as Sutton.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the need, highlights reduction in average distance for test centres and prioritisation of tests.
Stella Creasy
Lab Co-op
Walthamstow
Question
Asks about financial penalties written into contracts of companies running testing services.
Minister reply
Responds that the focus is on ensuring as much capacity as possible, highlighting contributions from various organisations.
Peter Aldous
Con
Waveney
Question
Requests guidance for schools to manage test demand and ensures continuation of local testing programmes.
Minister reply
Agrees with both points made by the MP, commits to liaising with Secretary of State for Education.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Asked about the NHS funding allocation to Northern Ireland under Barnett consequentials and inquired about vaccine safety and prioritisation for children and education.
Minister reply
The Barnett consequentials will apply normally. Vaccines will only be licensed after rigorous testing by MHRA, and the JCVI will determine prioritization.
Question
Thanked for extra A&E funding and inquired about testing difficulties faced by schools, specifically mentioning challenges with teachers' children isolating due to symptoms.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the importance of Stoke Mandeville Hospital's funding increase. Tests are available but demand is high; advised symptomatic individuals should be prioritised for tests.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
Expressed shock at limited testing references in the statement despite rising cases and system challenges.
Minister reply
Called on the hon. Member to explain matters accurately to constituents.
Question
Inquired about reassurances for those struggling with test access due to increasing demand.
Minister reply
Acknowledged challenges but assured tests are available and symptomatic individuals should come forward.
Clive Betts
Lab
Sheffield South East
Question
Inquired about the lack of testing at a new centre in Sheffield despite previous promises, and questioned when public sector labs will be used to fill private sector gaps.
Minister reply
Supported pillar 2 testing and expressed willingness to expand NHS testing capacity further with Sheffield's NHS.
Ben Spencer
Con
Runnymede and Weybridge
Question
Welcomed £6 million funding for St Peter’s Hospital’s A&E expansion.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the funding and its importance in preparing for winter.
Yvette Cooper
Lab
Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Question
Reported difficulties faced by a constituent trying to get tested despite symptoms, questioning the delay in increasing testing capacity.
Minister reply
Acknowledged record levels of capacity but noted NHS pillar 1 system eligibility for symptomatic NHS workers.
Kieran Mullan
Con
Bexhill and Battle
Question
Welcomed £9 million funding for Leighton Hospital, inquired about vaccine progress, and asked if the lockdown focuses on interactions within homes.
Minister reply
Confirmed record testing capacity across UK; acknowledged hospital funding and spread of virus at home.
Question
Inquired who should resign for failing to increase testing capacity timely despite warnings, citing a meeting with the chief medical officer.
Minister reply
Stated record testing capacity is being delivered across UK.
Question
May I ask my right hon. Friend to set out the specific criteria that must be met for the rule of six to be lifted?
Minister reply
The judgment on how we lift the rule of six will be based on a whole series of measures: not least, of course, the case rate across the country, but also the impact of those cases in terms of hospitalisations. Sadly, we are seeing hospitalisations starting to rise, and therefore we have brought in measures to try to slow the spread of the virus.
Question
The last time I raised test and trace failures, the Secretary of State accused me of not being serious. Well, I am deadly serious. The Mildmay testing centre opposite my office in Ilford South has stopped accepting walk-in tests, despite the constituency being on the cusp of a local lockdown, with Redbridge now having the highest infection rate in London... Can the Secretary of State give us an assurance that we will not need a second lockdown to mitigate his failing test and trace system?
Minister reply
I work very closely with the London leadership, cross-party, to tackle the problems and to ensure that there is testing available according to the clinical priority. In the hon. Gentleman’s area in the last week, there have been over 3,000 tests.
Question
I have four asks for the Secretary of State... Finally, what specific actions is his Department taking right now to help bring down the numbers in Bolton?
Minister reply
The situation in Bolton is very serious, and all four of the requests from my hon. Friend are rightly made. He is pressing the case, as he should, and perhaps I should meet him to see what progress we can make on all these cases.
Question
Despite the likes of me warning last month about test lab capacity problems... how does the Secretary of State for Health expect local communities to continue their hard work in overcoming this virus if his Government are failing to provide vital resources?
Minister reply
On the contrary, the fact is that we are working hard with the local authority in Slough, where just in the last week over 1,900 tests have been done. I think it would be better to work together—don’t you?
Question
On a visit to Trinity Academy in the town of Thorne in my constituency... Can my right hon. Friend therefore confirm to the House whether his Department is planning on increasing the number of testing kits distributed to educational settings?
Minister reply
Yes, we are looking at exactly that, and I am very happy to talk to my hon. Friend about it.
Question
The Health Secretary has announced restrictions in the north-east... does he agree with me that we now need a financial package to support the businesses that are suffering so that they do not wither on the vine, and so that my constituents can do the right thing in having to choose between leaving work in order to keep people safe and putting food on the table?
Minister reply
I pay tribute to the hon. Lady, because in Kirklees it has been difficult in the last few weeks... She rightly argues for that in Batley and Spen, and I will see what I can do to further that.
Question
Over the past few days, I and Kent colleagues have received a significant increase in the number of inquiries from constituents regarding testing arrangements in the county... What steps is the Department taking to scale up testing and lab capacity in Kent?
Minister reply
Yes, of course. My hon. Friend makes the point well. We are putting more localised testing in and making sure that it is as accessible as possible.
Question
At least six care homes in my borough of Enfield have seen the return of covid-19 cases... What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that testing is not taking as long? What does he intend to do to fix this mess?
Minister reply
Making sure that test kits get returned rapidly is incredibly important, including in social care. I am glad to say that the backlog has come down over the past week.
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for all the work he is doing... Will my right hon. Friend give consideration to allowing informal childcare arrangements?
Minister reply
That is an important question. It is a very difficult balance, because often informal childcare is grandparents looking after children and older people are, of course, the most vulnerable to the disease.
Question
The Government’s plans for mass testing have been criticised... Does the Health Secretary accept that we need to focus on ensuring that the existing system works before trying to shoot for the moon?
Minister reply
We need to do both. I would just ask the hon. Lady to look at the work the SNP Scottish Government are doing.
Question
In Bolton, the national lockdown has been followed by the local lockdown and economic lockdown... What actions is my right hon. Friend taking to deal with that?
Minister reply
We have put huge amounts of testing into Bolton, with almost 7,000 tests over the past week.
Bill Esterson
Lab
Sefton Central
Question
It is no good blaming the public. People want to know that they can get a test when they need to. Some 25% of new cases are in north-west England, but only 15% of testing capacity. My constituents who are showing symptoms cannot get a test. Children and staff in our schools need to be able to get a test, so schools can stay open safely. The care homes in my borough are worried that, as demand goes up, they will not be able to get a test. When will the extra capacity be available in my constituency?
Minister reply
We have been putting in the extra testing capacity in Sefton. More than 5,000 tests have been conducted in Sefton in the last week. People should hear loud and clear that if they are in Sefton, as anywhere else, and they have the symptoms, they should come forward.
Question
Having visited Chorley and South Ribble Hospital last Friday, I was delighted to see some of the Government’s £300 million grant in action, with teams on the ground building significant works to help to make the A&E unit more covid-secure and increase its capacity. Will my right hon. Friend join me in looking forward to its full reopening as soon as possible?
Minister reply
Yes, absolutely. As I mentioned in my statement, I want to see the A&E in Chorley reopen as soon as is safely possible. My hon. Friend is right that we have put in a huge amount of support, and we all want to see it reopening.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon and Consett
Question
As my constituency sees the introduction of the new local restrictions in the north-east, will the Government give extra thought to easing the restrictions on informal childcare? It is an important part of the north-east economy and an absolute necessity for those on the lowest incomes, particularly women. I understand it is something that the local authorities have also requested.
Minister reply
Yes, I will happily work with the hon. Lady on that question. It is a challenge, because of the problem of intergenerational transmission of the virus—I am sure she understands that side of it—so it is an important balance that we need to strike.
Question
I am absolutely delighted with the £9.7 million upgrade of Southend A&E, which is entirely appropriate as we move towards city status. Does my right hon. Friend agree that if Southend is to avoid a lockdown, we cannot have a repetition of the scenes at Short Street testing station yesterday where, apparently, someone in management said that people could turn up without an appointment?
Minister reply
I will happily look into the testing in Southend, but it is nice to have some good news for the people there today.
Rachel Hopkins
Lab
Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Question
Luton was an area of concern earlier in the summer, but it came out of it because people were able to get tested whether they had symptoms or not. Now, however, with the prioritisation of only those with symptoms because of the abject failure of the Government to get the testing process right, residents in my constituency are worried that we will see the simple blunt tool of a national lockdown.
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is absolutely right that Luton is an example of local action that worked to bring the case rate right down. The outbreak was specific to certain parts of Luton. The council worked with the national bodies brilliantly.
Question
I thank the Secretary of State for the extra money for the Luton and Dunstable Hospital that he announced today. Does he agree that it would help people with symptoms who need a test if those told to self-isolate without symptoms did not think that a test was a “get out of jail free” card? How can we help people to self-isolate properly, given that only one in five has been doing so?
Minister reply
This is the central point: if people do not have symptoms, but they have been close to somebody who has tested positive or has symptoms of coronavirus, unfortunately they have to self-isolate because of the biology of the virus, which can incubate for up to 14 days.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Question
Increasingly, we have a Health Secretary who is out of control of a virus that is out of control. Next weekend, 40,000 students will come to York. We were promised a testing centre next month. November is now the earliest that we will have a walk-in centre where people can have a test.
Minister reply
We of course have to ensure that the provision of testing centres is where the virus is most virulent. Actually, we do have military planners involved in that process, and it is very important to get it right.
Desmond Swayne
Con
New Forest West
Question
Some 1.4% of those 275,000 people who travelled and queued were positive. Will not even a modest number of false positives mislead us? Is the Office for National Statistics survey any less prone to false positives?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend raises an important point about the mathematics and the science of testing. I am sure he would enjoy reading the annexes to the ONS report that comes out each Friday, which address directly the question how the ONS adjusts for potential false positives.
Question
Because of the testing shambles, I understand that covid tests now have to be rationed to high-risk areas, but that comes at a time of increasing case numbers in Brighton and Hove, where a yellow alert has just been issued amid record cases last week. How will new outbreaks in currently deprioritised areas be identified and contained if we are not testing properly in the community?
Minister reply
Given the hon. Lady’s understandable concerns for her constituents, she should welcome the record testing capacity that we have and the more than 3,000 tests that have been done in Brighton in the last week.
Question
Given the speculation about new local restrictions in West Yorkshire, will the Secretary of State reassure me that he will continue to be driven by the data? Will he also deploy extra testing facilities and capacity, because entire families in my constituency are unable to go to work or school, as they sit at home repeatedly refreshing the testing portal to try to book a covid test for family members with symptoms?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend, who rightly raised this issue with me on Tuesday, knows that I will always be driven by the data in the local action that we take. Where we do take local action, I do so with a heavy heart.
Newcastle upon Tyne North
Question
Despite the disappointing news that the Health Secretary has delivered, the people of the north-east are committed to doing everything they can to get this virus under control—but the Government need to meet them halfway. In Scotland and Wales, children under 11 are exempt from the restrictions.
Minister reply
I pay tribute to the hon. Lady, who, in what she has been saying this morning and overnight about the restrictions that we have unfortunately had to put in place in her local area, has been speaking for her constituents.
Dehenna Davison
Con
Bishop Auckland
Question
As a north-east Tory MP, I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for engaging so effectively with our local authorities in the north-east as we try to tackle this really worrying rise in cases. However, I am concerned that residents across my constituency are facing these difficult, restrictive measures yet not seeing many rises in covid cases in our local communities. How will he review the situation in the north-east? Will he work with me to assess the figures at the most local level to ensure that residents from Spennymoor to Shildon to Barnard Castle can all get back to normal life as soon as possible?
Minister reply
Yes, of course. We take action at as local a level as possible, but unfortunately we do have to take action in this case. I was in the north-east on Monday. I would echo her comments that people will do what is necessary to control this virus and to look out for their communities. I pay tribute to the work that she has done in representing people from Bishop Auckland and her whole constituency in what are difficult times.
Kevan Jones
Lab
North Durham
Question
Many of my constituents cannot get tests, including people who work for the NHS. Others have been sent as far afield as Aberdeen for tests. At the same time, there has been spare testing capacity in the region. Last week, NHS Test and Trace moved all its mobile testing units out of County Durham. The measures that the Secretary of State has outlined today will be enacted by the people of the north-east—I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North (Catherine McKinnell)—but unless we have an effective local test and trace system, this will not work. Is it not time to just admit that the national system has failed and that the effort now has to go into directors of public health being given the finance locally to put in place effective test and trace systems that local people can have confidence in?
Minister reply
The test and trace system works in a combination of the national and the local. If we took away the national, we would not have the record testing capacity, but if we took away the local, we would not have the local knowledge and the boots on the ground to solve problems and to find people who need to self-isolate. It is the combination of the two that works. I urge the right hon. Gentleman to work with his local council and with the national teams to do everything we can to get the virus under control in his area.
Shadow Comment
Jon Ashworth
Shadow Comment
The shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Jon Ashworth, criticised the government's response to rising coronavirus cases, particularly concerning testing. He highlighted inadequacies such as long wait times and insufficient test availability in many areas across the UK. The Labour MP urged the government to prioritise care home staff testing and ensure that there are enough mobile testing sites for affected regions like the north-east. Ashworth also questioned whether restrictions on family visits will be lifted and if nationwide re-imposition of restrictions is being considered. He called for increased NHS funding to tackle the backlog in non-covid care.
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