Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to expand flu testing, including through (1) at-home testing, and (2) testing in the community, in 2021–22.
The diagnosis of influenza is generally made using clinical symptoms in primary care settings and can only be confirmed by laboratory testing. Rapid testing should be undertaken in all people with complicated influenza which often takes place in hospital. The Department is exploring potential options to expanding winter virus testing via home or community testing.