Written question WQ84140
- Asked by
- James EvansConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 2 days
Question
Will the Minister provide an explanation as to why some domiciliary carers in Brecon and Radnorshire are unable to obtain lateral flow tests and are therefore unable to comply with the requirements of their job?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
Since early 2021 domiciliary care staff were expected to undertake twice weekly LFD tests and domiciliary care providers have all been set up on the national system to allow them to order adequate tests for their staff. This system has worked very well with good supplies of LFDs being made available to the sector.
In December 2021, based on scientific advice in response to the new Omicron variant, Ministers took the decision to increase the testing for all frontline health and social care staff to daily LFD testing before attending work. Providers were notified of this change on the 17th December and encouraged to order the maximum number of tests they could in their pre-Christmas order.
Welsh Government officials also arranged for every Local Authority in Wales to place an ‘emergency’ bulk order for LFD tests to cover the Christmas period. All social care providers were asked to contact their Local Authority testing leads should they need emergency supplies. They were also advised that emergency orders could be placed by calling 119. In the meantime the national system is being updated to allow social care providers to order increased numbers of LFD kits for their staff.