Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Tests for Key Workers

Tuesday 5 May 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Neill asks why test results through Care Quality Commission referrals are taking 5 to 7 days instead of the estimated 72 hours and questions why care homes receive names of positive residents but not staff due to data protection reasons, causing uncertainty.
  • Hancock expresses satisfaction with the testing roll-out for care homes and acknowledges the importance of testing.
  • Hancock confirms that asymptomatic NHS staff are being tested weekly in 16 trusts as part of pilots which have been successful and will be expanded further.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bob Neill Con Bexley Ilford South
NHS
Context

Neill inquires about the progress of ensuring that all key workers can access a covid-19 test, mentioning specific issues with care home testing.

Question

Neill asks why test results through Care Quality Commission referrals are taking 5 to 7 days instead of the estimated 72 hours and questions why care homes receive names of positive residents but not staff due to data protection reasons, causing uncertainty.

Answer from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matthew Hancock

Hancock expresses satisfaction with the testing roll-out for care homes and acknowledges the importance of testing. He agrees to look into the detailed issues raised by Neill regarding test result delays through CQC referrals and data protection concerns about not disclosing positive staff names.

Answered
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Q2 Jon Ashworth Lab Denton and Reddish
NHS
Context

Ashworth highlights the need to protect key workers, especially in healthcare, and refers to a study from Imperial College suggesting weekly screening of healthcare workers reduces transmission.

Question

Ashworth welcomes Hancock's comments on testing but asks if he has considered the Imperial study indicating that weekly testing of asymptomatic healthcare staff could reduce their contribution to transmission by 25% to 33%, and inquires about plans for widespread testing of all healthcare staff, regardless of symptoms.

Answer from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matthew Hancock

Hancock welcomes Ashworth's question in a responsible manner and mentions the test, track and trace pilot on the Isle of Wight. He confirms that asymptomatic NHS staff are being tested weekly in 16 trusts as part of pilots which have been successful and will be expanded further.

Answered
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