Non-NHS nursing staff struggling to access tests

A recent RCN survey shows startling discrepancies between the offer and accessibility of coronavirus testing for health care staff working in the NHS versus those working on temporary contracts or outside the NHS.

The UK-wide survey of more than 22,000 members ran over the same weekend as the government’s announcement of testing expansion. At that time, 76 per cent of all respondents said they had not been offered a test and, of those, 44 per cent said that they did not know how to access testing.

The RCN found that more than four in five temporary staff had not been offered coronavirus testing, compared to three quarters of permanent staff. It also revealed that: 79 per cent of those working outside of the NHS had not been offered a test, compared with 75 per cent in the NHS; in care homes and prisons, around 50 per cent didn’t know how to access tests, and with temporary staff, this figure was 60 per cent; and, of the staff who were offered testing, 90 per cent were able to access it.

Dame Donna Kinnair, RCN chief executive, said: “It is concerning to see that some nursing staff, particularly those outside the NHS, are still having issues accessing COVID-19 testing. We know that additional measures have been recently put in place to improve access to testing and we will be monitoring the situation closely. All health and care staff must be able to access testing so they can work safely and without worry. This is essential given existing workforce shortages across all health and care settings.”