NHS workers paying for private virus tests

WORRIED NHS staff are paying out of their own pockets for private coronavirus tests after waiting in vain to be tested for free.

Private companies are selling tests to front-line medics despite a free Government rollout for all healthcare workers.

Last night, a senior NHS source confirmed that a number of staff were paying for their own tests to determine whether they could safely treat patients.

One firm, Coronatest.org. uk, said it was providing “affordable and rapid Covid-19 testing” for hundreds of front-line workers. It charges health workers £24 per test, plus £7.50 for delivery, and claims to share all profits with NHS staff.

Its website claims the finger-prick antibody test gives results in 10 minutes and the firm, registered last week, insists it is MHRA registered, CE marked and conforms to UK criteria. Public Health England (PHE) sources, however, said they would never sanction a firm to sell tests to healthcare workers.

“We’re aware that some trusts have been feeding back that their workers have been buying tests privately,” a senior NHS source said.

PHE has been validating commercial tests and those partners approved and working with the Government, such as Roche, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Randox, have been announced.

Experts cast doubt on the veracity of tests not being used in the rollout.

A Department of Health spokesman said: “NHS staff will be first in line for a new testing programme being developed in collaboration with government and industry.”