COVID-19: Nationwide testing for all symptomatic care home staff and residents 'within days'

Health secretary Matt Hancock has announced COVID-19 testing will be provided to all symptomatic care home residents and social care staff in England ‘within days.’

According to the government, currently the first five symptomatic residents in a care home setting are tested to provide confirmation of whether if there is an outbreak.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is leading the coordination of testing for the care sector and has offered 6,000 care facilities the opportunity to test their staff.

By the end of the week they will have contacted all 30,000 care providers.

Testing will now also be provided to all potential care home residents before they are discharged from hospital.

’We will ensure that everyone in social care who needs a test can have a test’

As capacity grows further through the government’s new mega labs, it will prioritise the testing of symptomatic social care workers and anyone in their household who has COVID-19 symptoms.

Mr Hancock said: “I am deeply conscious that people in residential care are among the most vulnerable to coronavirus. We are doing everything we can to keep workers, residents and their families safe, and I am determined to ensure that everyone who needs a coronavirus test should be able to have access to one.

“We have already begun testing social care workers and will roll this out nationwide over the coming days. And as we continue to ramp up our testing programme, we will test all current care home residents with coronavirus symptoms and all new care home residents who are discharged from hospital into care.

“Testing is key in our battle against coronavirus, and as part of our plan to prevent the spread and save lives we will ensure that everyone in social care who needs a test can have a test.”

Care providers will identify workers eligible for testing and refer them to their local testing centre.

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said: “Today’s announcement from DHSC that testing will be available for all social care staff and residents that need it is indeed welcome.

"Care homes will be in a much better position to face this virus head on once they have been able to test both their staff, residents and new residents who have been discharged from hospital into their care homes.

“Testing and personal protection equipment (PPE) go hand in hand and are at the forefront of all care providers’ minds. It is heartening to know the government is listening to the sector."

Professor Green added: "I’m humbled to see the amazing work that the social care workers are doing round the clock and would urge anyone who thinks that a career in social care is unskilled or not a key worker to think again."

Testing will help care providers to take appropriate action to ensure that care workers and other residents are safe - including implementing isolation procedures for those who test positive.