Care home workers still not receiving regular COVID tests according to new survey

One in nine care home staff are still not receiving weekly COVID tests despite government promises, according to a survey published today by public-services union Unison.

The new survey reveals 11 per cent of employees in residential care looking after over-65s and people with dementia have not had regular swab checks.

One in ten (10 per cent) said they waited more than 72 hours to learn if they were infected or not. Some even experienced hold-ups of more than a week or did not get results back at all.

Almost a quarter (24 per cent) said this did not affect their work, but a small number had to take time off unpaid or were put on to statutory sick pay because of the long wait for results.

The results are based on a survey of nearly 13,000 care staff in the UK, where 43 per cent polled work in residential care.

One care worker said: “I booked an appointment, but they said you needed to pay for the test if you didn’t have symptoms. So, I didn’t do it.”

Another said: “My place of work is only providing regular testing for staff with symptoms. Otherwise we have to arrange our own tests.”

Unison say delays and lack of access to testing for care employees could be putting both them and residents at increased risk of infection and is calling on the government to set up a reliable monitoring system to ensure eligible staff are getting tested each week.

Unison assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Regular testing is essential to protect care staff and those they look after.

“It’s a major concern they’re still being let down. A repeat of what happened during the first wave must be avoided at all costs.

“Delays and lack of access to testing is putting workers, their families and the people who depend on them at risk.

“Employers can’t afford to have staff off work — and workers can’t afford the hit financially.

“The government must get a grip on testing, honour its promises and ensure care staff have proper access to checks. Care staff will be hoping that the rollout of the vaccine happens much more smoothly.”

'Without testing, staff won’t know to self-isolate if they have the virus'

The Alzheimer’s Society is concerned with the results of the survey and re-iterate that regular testing is one of the key ways to defeat COVID-19, along with PPE and hygiene.

Fiona Carragher, director of research and influencing at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “It’s hugely concerning to hear that so many care staff aren’t getting the tests they need.

“It’s so desperately important that the promised reunion of people with dementia and their families happens swiftly and safely, after months and months of tragedy.

"Without regular testing, staff won’t know to self-isolate if they have the virus without symptoms.

“At least 70 per cent of care home residents have dementia, 60 per cent of those who receive care at home, people must be able to safely receive essential care in their own homes.”

However, the government are defending the testing programme and said they have been doing "everything to keep care home staff protected."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “This survey appears to be mixing up categories of care workers to reach its conclusions and since it was launched more than two months ago, we have rolled out further regular testing, including to hospice and home care workers.

“From the start of the pandemic, we have been doing everything we can to keep care home staff protected, including providing free priority testing and personal protective equipment (PPE).

“Thanks to an incredible amount of hard work and planning, hospitals across the country have also already begun vaccinating care home staff as a priority.”