Care homes hit out over 'weekly' coronavirus testing

The Government had been accused of not delivering on its pledge to test care home staff weekly for coronavirus.

The National Care Forum, which represents 120 of the UK's social care charities, says care homes are regularly waiting longer for coronavirus test results.

The Government pledged in July that staff would be tested each week and residents monthly, but delays are said to be hindering regular testing.

Results are also coming back void or inconclusive and it is feared that asymptomatic staff could be unknowingly spreading COVID-19 while they wait for their results.

National Care Forum executive director Vic Rayner said: "The Government says all the right things in relation to priorities, but we are still seeing members regularly reporting delays of a week or more in relation to getting the results.

"Things are improving, but the Government needs to get the prioritisation of test results to feel like a meaningful commitment on the ground."

The GMB union warned that leaving staff untested for weeks could lead to rocketing care home deaths.

Kelly Andrews, GMB care lead, said: "If even the big providers are struggling with testing - where does this leave smaller companies who can't close down homes to protect their vulnerable clients?"

A DHSC spokesman said: "We continue to prioritise care homes for repeat re - testing, and any care home resident or member of staff with symptoms is able to immediately access a free test with more than 120,000 sent out every day. Between September 3 and 16, more than 700,000 tests were carried out at care homes with the average time for results less than four days.”