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| Coronavirus: Testing issues 'will be solved in a matter of weeks', says Hancock | Coronavirus: Testing issues 'will be solved in a matter of weeks', says Hancock |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The testing system is facing an "enormous challenge" after a "sharp rise" in those seeking a test, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said. | |
| Tests should be prioritised for those who need it most, including those in care homes, he told MPs. | |
| When challenged on the reports of people struggling to get a test, Mr Hancock said it would take a "matter of weeks" to resolve the problems. | |
| Labour said no tests were available in virus "hotspots" over the weekend. | |
| It comes after hospital bosses warned that a lack of tests for NHS workers was putting services at risk. | |
| An increase in demand for coronavirus tests has led to local shortages, with some people being directed to test sites hundreds of miles from their homes. | An increase in demand for coronavirus tests has led to local shortages, with some people being directed to test sites hundreds of miles from their homes. |
| Around 220,000 tests are processed each day, according to government figures released last week, with a testing capacity of more than 350,000 - which includes swab tests and antibody tests. The aim is to increase that to 500,000 a day by the end of October. | Around 220,000 tests are processed each day, according to government figures released last week, with a testing capacity of more than 350,000 - which includes swab tests and antibody tests. The aim is to increase that to 500,000 a day by the end of October. |
| Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Hancock said there were "operational challenges" with testing which the government was "working hard" to fix. | Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Hancock said there were "operational challenges" with testing which the government was "working hard" to fix. |
| He said throughout the pandemic they had prioritised testing according to need. | He said throughout the pandemic they had prioritised testing according to need. |
| "I do not shirk from decisions about prioritisation," Mr Hancock said. | "I do not shirk from decisions about prioritisation," Mr Hancock said. |
| "The top priority is and always has been acute clinical care. The next priority is social care, where we're now sending over 100,000 tests a day because we've all seen the risks this virus poses in care homes." | "The top priority is and always has been acute clinical care. The next priority is social care, where we're now sending over 100,000 tests a day because we've all seen the risks this virus poses in care homes." |
| Conservative chairman of the Health and Social Care Committee Jeremy Hunt was among the MPs to question Mr Hancock on testing, saying a number of his constituents had to travel for tests, while another key worker had to wait a week for her results. | Conservative chairman of the Health and Social Care Committee Jeremy Hunt was among the MPs to question Mr Hancock on testing, saying a number of his constituents had to travel for tests, while another key worker had to wait a week for her results. |
| "A week ago today the secretary of state told the Health Select Committee that he expected to have this problem solved in two weeks," he said. | |
| "Is the secretary of state, given the efforts that his department is making, still confident that in a week's time we will have this problem solved?" | |
| "I think that we will be able to solve this problem in a matter of weeks," Mr Hancock replied. | "I think that we will be able to solve this problem in a matter of weeks," Mr Hancock replied. |
| "So we are managing to deliver record capacity, but as he well knows demand is also high and the response to that is to make sure we have prioritisation so the people who most need it can get the tests that they need." | "So we are managing to deliver record capacity, but as he well knows demand is also high and the response to that is to make sure we have prioritisation so the people who most need it can get the tests that they need." |
| Downing Street acknowledged the "significant demand" for coronavirus tests but said "capacity is the highest it's ever been." | Downing Street acknowledged the "significant demand" for coronavirus tests but said "capacity is the highest it's ever been." |
| 'Enormous challenge' | 'Enormous challenge' |
| Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said Mr Hancock was "losing control of this virus". | |
| "When schools reopen and people return to workplaces and social distancing becomes harder, infections rise," he said. | "When schools reopen and people return to workplaces and social distancing becomes harder, infections rise," he said. |
| "So extra demand on the system was inevitable, so why didn't he use the summer to significantly expand NHS lab capacity and fix contact tracing?" | "So extra demand on the system was inevitable, so why didn't he use the summer to significantly expand NHS lab capacity and fix contact tracing?" |
| Responding, Mr Hancock said: "I don't deny that it is an enormous challenge and when you have a free service it's inevitable that demand rises. | Responding, Mr Hancock said: "I don't deny that it is an enormous challenge and when you have a free service it's inevitable that demand rises. |
| "The challenge is to make sure that we prioritise the tests we have as a nation to those who most need it." | "The challenge is to make sure that we prioritise the tests we have as a nation to those who most need it." |
| Earlier, Home Secretary Priti Patel told BBC Breakfast said the government was "surging capacity" where it was needed. | Earlier, Home Secretary Priti Patel told BBC Breakfast said the government was "surging capacity" where it was needed. |
| "Clearly there is much more work that needs to be undertaken with Public Health England and the actual public health bodies in those particular local areas, and as a government obviously we work with Public Health England to surge where there is demand in local hotspot areas," she said. | "Clearly there is much more work that needs to be undertaken with Public Health England and the actual public health bodies in those particular local areas, and as a government obviously we work with Public Health England to surge where there is demand in local hotspot areas," she said. |
| Ms Patel also said England's new 'rule of six' meant families should not stop in the street to talk to friends. | Ms Patel also said England's new 'rule of six' meant families should not stop in the street to talk to friends. |