Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure a timely and adequate supply of test kits are made available for staff and residents in care homes throughout the UK.
All Care Quality Commission registered care homes in England are eligible for a combination of polymerase chain reaction tests (PCR) and rapid lateral flow devices (LFDs). Staff have provision for two rapid LFD and one PCR test per week. Residents have provision for one PCR test per month. In addition, all staff and residents have access to ‘rapid response’ testing if a positive case is detected in the home.