Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies has warned the First Minister that some people in Wales are being put at unnecessary risk because of the eligibility criteria for Covid-19 testing in Wales.
James, along with other Conservative MPs from Wales, has sent a letter to the First Minister expressing “alarm” at the disparity that now exists in testing availability between England and Wales and calling on the Welsh Government to take action to plug the gap.
The UK Government has announced testing in England is now being offered in the community setting to all of the following groups, where symptoms are present:
• All key workers, including NHS and social care workers
• Anyone over 65
• Anyone who in employment but whose work cannot be done from home
• Anyone who lives with someone who falls into one of the above categories
In addition, testing is now being made available for the following with or without symptoms:
• Social care workers and residents in care homes, both to investigate outbreaks and, following successful pilots, as part of a rolling programme to test all care homes
• NHS workers and patients, in line with NHS England guidance
Testing in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland can already be arranged through a UK Government online portal.
James is concerned that, in stark contrast, community testing availability in Wales is for symptomatic key workers (or household members) only.
He said:
“As a result of this disparity in Covid-19 testing availability, some of my constituents will unnecessarily contract Covid infection, while others will spend avoidable time self-isolating, and off work. Of particular concern is the fact that residents in care homes are likely to be placed at unacceptable ongoing risk.
“This is very disappointing and comes in the wake of failings in the dispatch of shielding letters; difficulties for the vulnerable in obtaining priority supermarket assistance; reporting errors for Covid deaths; failure to implement the GoodSAM volunteer programme; rejection of assistance from the Aviation Task Force; and delays in the replication of various UK Government schemes.”
In the letter, the MPs also express concern that a different web-based booking system is being developed “to meet the specific needs in Wales”, and that initially it will only serve Cardiff and Newport, with online bookings being “phased in” elsewhere in Wales, and that all swab processing in Wales still requires the use of a single laboratory site in Cardiff.
James added: “We have strongly urged the First Minister to rapidly develop additional antigen testing sites across Wales and to seek the use of laboratories elsewhere in the United Kingdom to ensure that the people of Wales are not let down in our fight against this pandemic.
“It is vital that all the points we have raised with the First Minister are addressed if we are to have a fighting chance of defeating this virus.”
