Testing capacity in Wales up to 15,000 a day – BMA Cymru asks for regular frontline NHS tests

British Medical Association Cymru is supporting calls for all NHS frontline workers to be regularly tested for Covid-19, whether they are showing symptoms or not.

Currently, the testing policy relates to all symptomatic critical workers and to all symptomatic members of their household over five years of age, including adults and children.

Leading doctors in Wales argue that as plans are discussed for the resumption of services, staff across the NHS should have frequent tests, to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers.

Dr Phil Banfield, Chair BMA’s Welsh Consultants Committee, said: “We support regular testing for all NHS frontline workers, in particular those who are asymptomatic and are not tested under current rules. At the beginning of the pandemic, The World Health Organisation said the response to the pandemic needed ‘testing, testing, testing’, and this remains the case.”

He added: “If we want ‘normal’ NHS services to resume, this is a sensible approach to ensure doctors can continue to offer the best care, whilst ensuring the safety of themselves and their patients. As people are brought back to ‘Covid light’ areas for treatment, unless asymptomatic staff are also tested, there’s the chance they could pass the virus onto patients.

“Testing needs to be frequent and regular to minimise further spread following a potentially false negative result. We must also continue to take precautions when a negative result is received.

“Whilst there’s uncertainly if there will be a second wave of Covid-19, the best way to mitigate against this is to start with our healthcare workers, who are dealing with patients, in close contact, day in, day out.

Dr Banfield also called for results to be returned more quickly and for antibody testing for frontline workers. He said: “Delays in test results being returned need to be addressed urgently, along with antibody testing, even if this is a one-off occurrence. We need to know that doctors who are in close contact with patients are not carrying and spreading the virus unnecessarily, whilst getting doctors back into work as safely as possible after self-isolating.

“We want to see ‘real-time’ data on the number of tests being carried out at a much more local level, to enable the public and profession to have confidence that their NHS is safe to access. This will enable those with the greatest clinical priority to receive the care they urgently need.”

At yesterday’s Welsh Government briefing we asked First Minister Mark Drakeford about the call for the frequent testing, and also noted that there are around 3,000 tests a day taking place across Wales in total.

Previously the the total figure of possible daily tests has been over 12,000 – so we asked for the current testing capacity, and if the extra unused testing resource would be put to full use every day.

Mr Drakeford said: “The current testing capacity is 15,000 , up from the 12,500 we were reporting last week. So you’re right, there is room to do more testing where that is required.

“We remain in conversations with the BMA and others about making the best possible use of that testing. As you saw in the figures I quoted in the beginning, at the height of the pandemic, 45% of all tests carried out were positive, we are carrying far more tests than we were at that point, but the number of the percentage of positive tests has fallen to 3.5% percent.

“It is important to use your tests carefully to focus where the need is greatest so we remain in conversations with the BMA and others to make sure that we make the very best use of the capacity we have.”