Responding to the government’s announcement on testing in social care settings, Labour’s Shadow Minsiter for Social Care Liz Kendall MP said:

“Increased testing for care home residents and care staff is essential to tackling the emerging crisis in social care and something Labour has long been calling for. We look forward to seeing details of how this latest commitment will be delivered, with only 500 care staff having been tested to date.”

“The Government has rightly said the NHS will get whatever resources it needs to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. This must also apply to social care, which needs a much greater priority and focus than it has had so far.”

“Alongside this, Ministers must act to ensure all care home and home care staff get the PPE they need and publish daily figures on deaths outside hospitals, including in care homes, so we know the full scale of the challenge we face.”