• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

NHS staff forced to stay off work due to lack of testing

The Canary by The Canary
15 September 2020
in News, UK
Reading Time: 3 mins read
165 7
A A
0
Home UK News
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A lack of testing is contributing to staff absences across the NHS, putting services at risk, health leaders have warned.

Warning

NHS Providers, which represents NHS trust leaders, said hospitals in Bristol, Leeds, and London had raised concerns over the weekend about the lack of tests available for NHS staff. It warned that the recovery of normal NHS services was being put in jeopardy, while preparations for the winter pressures of coronavirus (Covid-19) and seasonal flu were being hampered.

NHS staff are having to self-isolate due to an inability to get a test for themselves or family members, it said.

“NHS trusts are working in the dark”

Testing has come under intense scrutiny after people across England reported they were unable to book tests, or were being offered tests hundreds of miles away. NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson said there was a lack of detailed operational information on the shortages, such as how long they will last.

He said:

It’s clear that there are current capacity problems with the testing regime. Trust leaders from Bristol, Leeds and London have all raised concerns over the weekend about the lack of testing availability leading to greater levels of staff absence.

It’s not just access for tests for staff members themselves, it’s also access for their family members as NHS workers have to self-isolate if their family members are unable to confirm if they have Covid-19 or not.

The problem is that NHS trusts are working in the dark – they don’t know why these shortages are occurring, how long they are likely to last, how geographically widespread they are likely to be and what priority will be given to healthcare workers and their families in accessing scarce tests.

They need to know all this information so that they can plan accordingly. For example, trusts need to know if they should try to create or re-establish their own testing facilities as quickly as possible.

“We are concerned”

Hopson said NHS trusts were also concerned about the impact of testing shortages on patients who need to be tested before being admitted for hospital treatment.

“We’re aware of a small number of examples of patients being unable to get such tests, which cuts across trusts’ ability to restore services in the way they have been asked to do,” he said.

We are concerned, for example, that patients waiting for hospital treatment can no longer highlight this fact when applying online to access a test. We need to prioritise tests for healthcare workers and their families and patients coming in for treatment, many of whom have already waited longer than normal.

Our recent survey showed how concerned trust leaders were about the impact of inadequate testing on their ability to restore services and it’s disappointing that no detailed information on the current problems has been shared.

He urged the government “to be honest and open” about what was going on.

The Government response has often been to rely on a random, impressive sounding, overall statistic – the number of tests performed or PPE (personal protective equipment) items delivered – or to set out a bold future ambition – a world class test and trace service by June, or a moonshot testing regime at some point next year.

Both approaches ignore the operational problem at hand. Neither helps the frontline organisations that actually have to deal with the problem.

The Department of Health and Social Care has said testing capacity has been targeted at the hardest-hit areas following a rise in demand.

An NHS spokesperson said:

Hospitals continue to fully comply with recommended patient and staff testing protocols. To further support the national Test and Trace programme, NHS hospital labs have now been asked to further expand their successful, fast turnaround and highly accurate, testing capacity.

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Refugees make it to land in Kent after hazardous Channel crossing

Next Post

Deadly wildfires divide Trump and governors of West Coast states

Next Post
Image of a debate with Trump about wildfires

Deadly wildfires divide Trump and governors of West Coast states

Priti Patel says she would report neighbours over ‘rule of six’ breaches

Women lose Court of Appeal challenge over pension changes

Jailed former Tory MP Elphicke is a ‘sexual predator who told pack of lies’, judge says

Jailed former Tory MP Elphicke is a ‘sexual predator who told pack of lies’, judge says

ITV praises Diversity’s ‘authentic and heartfelt’ Black Lives Matter BGT routine

ITV praises Diversity’s ‘authentic and heartfelt’ Black Lives Matter BGT routine

Please login to join discussion
When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business
Business

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

by Nathan Spears
14 May 2025
The Independent Alliance just brilliantly exposed the corporate media's pro-genocide bias
Trending

The Independent Alliance just brilliantly exposed the corporate media’s pro-genocide bias

by Ed Sykes
13 May 2025
Tesla Takedown rallies planned at company's UK advertising events
News

Campaigners are set to celebrate Tesla’s nosediving car sales – by hijacking its own events

by The Canary
13 May 2025
Tony Blair climate denial
News

Activists have just dragged Tony Blair over his rampant climate denialism

by The Canary
13 May 2025
A petition calling for the end to the badger cull just passed 100,000 signatures so will be heading for parliamentary debate
News

The badger cull is set for a parliamentary debate – all thanks to a viral petition

by The Canary
13 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

The Independent Alliance just brilliantly exposed the corporate media's pro-genocide bias
Trending
Ed Sykes

The Independent Alliance just brilliantly exposed the corporate media’s pro-genocide bias

Tesla Takedown rallies planned at company's UK advertising events
News
The Canary

Campaigners are set to celebrate Tesla’s nosediving car sales – by hijacking its own events

Tony Blair climate denial
News
The Canary

Activists have just dragged Tony Blair over his rampant climate denialism

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

Tech
Nathan Spears

How Digital Addictions Are Formed in the Shadow of Large Platforms

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub