People have contacted me regarding a vote during the opposition day debate, brought by the Labour Party, on NHS weekly testing. As is the nature of Opposition Day Motions, it was designed as a party political stunt to grab headlines.
To be clear first of all, the motion itself did nothing to bring about any sort of weekly testing programme, it simply asked for one. The motion also lacked any detail on how this blanket testing would be achieved. I am disappointed at Labour’s attempt at political point scoring.
Labour’s motion called for blanket testing of all NHS staff weekly, regardless of the nature of their work. For example, staff working in offices or administrative roles being tested the same as those staff working in wards in direct contact with patients.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has said there isn’t evidence yet to justify weekly testing of all NHS staff week in week out.
The Government is taking a targeted approach to this testing, so that it is focused on the most high-risk areas. Clinical advice is to focus intensive asymptomatic testing in those areas or settings identified to have high prevalence.
The approach on testing being used has been determined by clinics experts, including the Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, and the NHS has now set out plans for how it will work.
All NHS staff with symptoms will be prioritised, there will be regular testing of asymptomatic staff where there is a local outbreak, as well as regular surveillance testing across all staff. The Government is continually reviewing clinical evidence to ensure regular testing of staff without symptoms is undertaken where appropriate.
There is currently testing capacity for over 200,000 tests to be carried out each day, with those tests rightfully allocated by need. And NHS staff are rightfully being prioritised.
Were all NHS workers tested weekly this would inevitably have an impact on the ability of other key workers to access tests. This means people like our police, teachers, bin men and supermarket workers, who may be more exposed and more at risk, could struggle to get tested.
I have been in so proud of the efforts of staff at the Royal Stoke University Hospital and Haywood Walk-In Centre during this global health pandemic. I have been in regular contact with both hospitals and am delighted to have teamed up with Tracy Bullock, CEO of University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, for my Unsung Heroes awards, which I have been handing out these past few weeks, with still more to come.
As you are well aware I campaigned alongside Cllr Abi Brown, to ensure the bet365 Stadium become a Regional Testing Centre for residents in Stoke-on-Trent, Kidsgrove and Talke, and I was delighted when the government approved this. When constituents, like 10 year old Ava, contacted me saying her grandad needed a test, I got it done and was delighted when it came back negative.
I will not allow this Labour political spin to undermine the efforts of my team and I in ensuring we help and support you, the people of Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke.
I hope this helps to clear up my position. Below is a photo of the actual motion I voted for.