Coronavirus: Health minister admits care homes still lack testing capacity amid claims sector 'completely abandoned' by government

'We understand the mantra that was about 'save the NHS' but the concern we have is at what cost was that going to happen,' asks National Care Association

A senior minister has admitted the government still does not have capacity to offer coronavirus tests to all care home residents and staff amid claims the sector has been "completely abandoned".

Health minister Edward Argar acknowledged that ministers still need to "make available" further capacity - despite a pledge from the health secretary last month that testing would be rolled out to care home staff and patients.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Argar said: "There is still some capacity there that we need to put in, make available, I should say, to care homes to make sure everyone can access it quickly."

A 60-page document on the easing the lockdown, published earlier this week, disclosed that all care homes would be offered testing for residents and staff by 6 June - weeks after Matt Hancock promised a rapid expansion of the testing programme.

It comes amid as a furious row erupted between Labour and Downing Street over the crisis in care homes - a sector that now accounts for some 40 per cent of coronavirus deaths.

Sir Keir Starmer accused Boris Johnson of misleading MPs over the official advice to care homes over the risk of coronavirus, which said in March that it was "very unlikely" that residents would become infected.

The prime minister hit back at Sir Keir, saying he was "disappointed" the Labour leader had chosen to "selectively" quote from government guidance, in a sign the fragile truce between the parties was beginning to fray.

Mr Argar insisted the government did not receive "bad advice" about not locking down care homes at the same time as Italy, which saw the first major outbreak of Covid-19 in Europe.

He told Today: "I completely refute the assertion that it was bad advice, or it was poor advice.

"We have some of the best scientists in the world modelling this and giving us the advice."

But Nadra Ahmed, chair of the National Care Association, said the sector had been "completely abandoned" by the government and questioned whether the scientific advice given to ministers on care homes may have been wrong.

She said staff were fearful for their own safety and the safety of vulnerable residents due to lack of protective equipment.

"Here we were, suddenly left completely abandoned," she said.

"We understand the mantra that was about 'save the NHS' but the concern we have is at what cost was that going to happen."

Asked if the official advice was wrong, Ms Ahmed said: "Well, I think it was certainly not as well put as it should have been.

"And perhaps yes it was wrong because I think having said that we were the sector that was looking after the most frail and vulnerable, surely the first thing would have been to think how we could shield that bit of the sector."

The government has promised £600 million for infection control in care homes, with further detail expected to be set out in due course.​