BMA calls for government to prioritise tests for key workers amid patchy availability
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, of the British Medical Association, has called on the government to ensure key workers are offered COVID tests first as people in England struggle to get hold of them.
Earlier, the government claimed that the NHS has "additional stock" of rapid COVID tests, while "those who live or work in vulnerable settings" have access to additional tests via dedicated order routes.
Dr Nagpaul said: "The government has pledged that eight million lateral flow kits will be sent to pharmacies before New Year's Eve – which is only 24 hours away. That's a step in the right direction but there is no assurance that key workers will be offered them first.
"The BMA is urging the government to do everything possible to ensure that enough tests are available for key workers as a priority.
"The rapid spread of the Omicron variant has no doubt had a massive impact on demand for lateral flow test kits and PCR tests, however it is vital that the promised new supply of kits are offered to key workers such as health and social care staff as a priority.
"Being unable to get the tests means staff may not be legally allowed to work and at a time of acute workforce shortages and winter pressures this could be devastating for the care that can be given right across the NHS.
"For example, if a key worker is isolating and needs to have a negative PCR or lateral flow test on day six and seven, and cannot get access to them, they will not be able to return to work".