Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the decision to end the free provision of covid-19 tests, what modelling his Department has made of the financial costs of procuring covid-19 (a) lateral flow tests and (b) PCR tests for (i) schools, (ii) care homes, (iii) NHS primary care services, (iv) NHS secondary care services and (v) NHS tertiary care.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has carried out financial cost modelling to determine the estimated testing costs for care homes and National Health Service primary, secondary and tertiary care services. In 2022/23, the estimated total cost for lateral flow device and polymerase chain reaction testing is approximately £830 million. The UKHSA has not carried out specific modelling for school settings in 2022/23.

Free symptomatic testing will continue for patients in hospital, for whom a test is required for clinical management or to support treatment pathways; those who are eligible for COVID-19 treatments as they are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19; and individuals who live or work in high-risk closed settings, such as those in the National Health Service, social care, prisons and other places of detention.

The Department will continue to fund some asymptomatic testing in NHS, adult social care and hospice services during periods of higher prevalence, including for staff and patients. Asymptomatic testing of care home and hospice residents will also be provided on admission and during an outbreak. The UKHSA will continue to review such modelling, planning assumptions and related costs within all settings.