Coronavirus: Minister admits low number of tests carried out is ‘really troubling’ and hints at mistakes

Helen Whately acknowledges care workers cannot easily reach the drive-through centres set up

The care minister has admitted the low number of coronavirus tests being carried out is “really troubling” and hinted at mistakes in the strategy.

After weeks of the government defending its record – despite fewer than 20,000 daily tests, way short of the pledge of 100,000 next week – Helen Whately acknowledged it had failed to deliver as hoped.

She admitted that care workers were unable to reach the drive-through centres set up, which meant mobile tests were now being offered, with some home testing available very soon.

“It clearly is really troubling where our strategy is to increase capacity and get as much testing happening as possible,” Ms Whately said.

The admission is the clearest insight into why testing totals have remained so law, despite ministers insisting they now have the “capacity” to carry out 40,000 daily tests.

Matt Hancock the health secretary, is facing growing criticism – including from unnamed government aides – that he announced the 100,000 target without a strategy to deliver it.

Ministers have been embarrassed by pictures of drive-through sites lying almost empty, while some NHS staff stay away from work with suspected coronavirus symptoms.

One care home owner in Hampshire said she was delighted to learn her staff would now be tested – only to learn they would have to drive to Gatwick Airport, 90 minutes away.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Ms Whately said: “One thing we are looking at is increasing the access to tests.

“One problem we have had in social care is, at the moment, the tests being offered are in drive-through centres and not everyone has access to a car.”

The minister said initial mobile testing had “gone quite well” and revealed some testing kits would now be delivered to the homes of NHS and care workers.

“That should help on the transport challenge of getting to a test site,” she said.

Ms Whately was also forced to defend the continuing failure to provide sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) for health and care workers.

She said the government had been contacted by more than 8,000 potential suppliers and that ministers are concentrating on those with established supply chains.

“What the team is doing is moving quickest on those who have the largest scale that they can supply because we need billions of items of PPE,” she insisted.

“Some companies we have heard from have only set up in the last couple of days and have had a conversation with somebody they think they can get some stock to the UK.

“There is a difference between that and those who have established, experienced supply chains.”

Ms Whately also said that 61 NHS staff were known to have died after becoming infected with coronavirus, adding: “We have got to do everything we can to protect their lives.”