The Shadow Minister for Social Care and Older People’s Champion - Janet Finch-Saunders AM - has today (15 April) spoken of her shock that social care workers are having to wait up to five days to receive their COVID-19 test results. The Member for Aberconwy has also spoken of her dismay at the current test capacity limit.
In two urgent written questions to the Welsh Health Minister, Vaughan Gething AM, Janet has asked:
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Will the Minister confirm what steps he is taking to increase the current daily COVID-19 test capacity limit for those working in the social care sector?
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Can the Minister confirm what steps he is taking to reduce the two to five day wait for COVID-19 test results?
Her enquiries come following communication with residential care homes throughout her constituency. Among other concerns, managers' report long delays in receiving COVID-19 test results and a lack of direct guidance on PPE from the Welsh Government.
Commenting on the situation, Janet said:
“I am shocked to hear of the delays experienced by social care workers who await the results to their COVID-19 tests. The Welsh Health Minister must do away with the inefficient bureaucracy that lengthens time between testing and receipt of results.
“The longer healthy social care workers remain away from work, the greater the strain on our already overburdened social care sector.
“I also call on the Welsh Government to immediately increase the number of tests available for social care workers. The current test capacity limits do nothing but hamper a broader roll out of testing that would ensure the health and safety of front-line staff.
“In my own constituency of Aberconwy, with its older demographics, I am being inundated by concerned messages regarding the safety of our brilliant social care staff.
“I am deeply concerned to still hear of confusion over PPE usage guidance. The Welsh Government must lead from the front to ensure that the updated guidance is communicated clearly.
“We must continue to do everything within our power to help protect our health and social care staff. Access to clear channels of communication for our front-line staff is vital if public officials are to understand where PPE supplies are in most demand.
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