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Batches of thousands of quick turnaround covid tests aiming to allow care home visits to return still haven’t arrived on Teesside.
The Government unveiled a vast plan to give out on thousands of tests to council public health leaders last Monday (November 10).
Chiefs at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the lateral flow tests, which give a result in less than an hour, would be sent out last week.
But, as of Thursday afternoon, both Middlesbrough Council and Stockton Council confirmed the devices still hadn’t arrived.
Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham revealed Stockton Council had been promised as many as 10,000 lateral flow tests in its first batch last week after a conversation with Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
The Labour MP was unimpressed with how long the deliveries were taking.
“It was 10 or 11 days ago when they promised they were on their way,” said Mr Cunningham.
“The Government has announced with great fanfare that all these tests would be arriving across the country yet this simply hasn’t happened.
“They’ve failed to deliver on their promises and people in our area are depending on proper leadership.
“They want the opportunity to have the tests but the Government are yet again failing – just as they failed with track and trace.
“Perhaps the Government should try Royal Mail instead of snail mail.”
Government officials say there is a “logistics team” working with councils to deliver test kits to addresses in each region.
They added they were “not aware” of any delays in rolling out tests.
It is understood the lateral flow test kits can be deployed within 48 hours of arriving while the associated electric devices take up to five days to sort out.
The DHSC plans to hand over tests to public health leaders for up to 10% of each borough’s population every week – a total of around 47,000 tests.
North-east public health leaders are planning to use the quick turnaround tests to allow care homes visiting to return.
Last week, South Tees public health chief Mark Adams revealed the new programme would target vulnerable people as much as possible – with plans to offer the devices to designated care home visitors to allow them to see their loved ones.
Cllr Jim Beall, cabinet member for culture, leisure and health, confirmed the new tests were being lined up for care home visits when they arrived.
But he also told the Local Democracy Reporting Service how leaders were also looking at using them in schools in the wake of closures.
Cllr Beall added: “It is concerning the number outbreaks we’re getting in schools.
“It’s understandable in some respects.
“You can have all the bubbles and risk factors you like but there isn’t much you can do if a child brings it in.
“Strategically, it’s an area of concern and if there’s any way we can utilise these tests as a priority then that would make it better for children, families and staff, we’ll have a look at it.
“But the priority is in care homes.”
