Frontline health and social care staff will be tested for coronavirus twice a week from this month onwards, Wales’ Health Minister has announced.
Lateral flow tests, which can produce results in around 20 to 30 minutes, will be used as part of the routine testing. These are the tests which are being used in the mass testing programme in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough.
Health Minister Vaughan Gething said the routine testing is set to start from December 14, starting with staff working in “services with high risks of transmission”, with those working in “lower risk settings” getting tested regularly from January.
Who will be tested as part of this?
The new testing programme will be available for:
- Clinical NHS staff, such as doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, as well as those working with high-risk groups such as haematology staff working with transplant patients.
- Non-clinical staff including porters, cleaning staff, catering staff and volunteers.
- Social care workers, including domiciliary care workers, social workers and inspectors visiting care homes and other social care settings.
He also said there would be “regular asymptomatic testing of staff working in hospice inpateint units and those delivering hospice at home services”.
Darren Hughes, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, welcomed the news, but said it was “integral” that a vaccine can be deployed among healthcare workers “as quickly as possible”.
He said: “This should help us to safeguard and help prevent staff shortages at a time when sickness absence is generally high.
“Our members will continue to work around the clock to make sure our staff are safe and that we can give patients the help they need.”
Mr Hughes added: “Rapid testing and vaccinations will not mean we can increase the capacity of the NHS straight away, we will still need to practice additional hygiene measures, socially distance and wear PPE as community infections remain high.”
What did the Health Minister say?
Health Minister Vaughan Gething said the announcement “builds on the asymptomatic testing of health workers in Wales to assist with outbreak control and those working in care homes”.
“It is vital everyone understands that testing alone cannot eradicate the risks associated with Covid-19 and testing needs to be carried out alongside other infection prevention control measures, such as the use of PPE, social distancing and hand hygiene.
“Protecting our NHS staff and our most vulnerable citizens in Wales is at the heart of our Covid response and a key element of our Test, Trace, Protect strategy.”
What have the opposition said?
Senedd Member Andrew RT Davies, the Welsh Conservative spokesperson for health, said he was “glad” to hear the announcement.
He said: “Like many of their announcements it’s now vital that they follow through from their press release and deliver these tests to health and care settings across Wales.
“The tests will provide reassurance to our fantastic health and social care staff, as well as to their families and the people they’re caring for, as they battle this virus.”
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