Thank you to all those who have contacted me about
the #ProtectNHSWorkers campaign.
I have written extensively on the issue of Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE), and have been working tirelessly with my colleagues
within the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and local leads within
Cornwall on this very important issue. One of my more recent blog posts on this
is available here:
We have now signed over 100 new deals with PPE
suppliers around the world. Here in the UK, thanks to the efforts of Lord
Deighton and his team and the brilliance of domestic manufacturers we have
signed contracts for over two billion items of PPE, including facemasks,
visors, gowns and aprons.
I can also assure you that all NHS staff who need a
test for coronavirus are able to receive one. The Government is also testing
the families of NHS workers, as well as other critical public-sector workers,
including those who work for the police and fire services. Anyone working with
the NHS is able to access these tests as a priority. Testing capacity has
significantly increased and currently exceeds 200,000 per day.
The Government will also begin offering antibody
tests to health and care staff, eligible patients and care residents in England
to see if they have had coronavirus, representing further progress in our
national testing programme. The Government signed contracts to supply over 10
million tests from Roche and Abbott in the coming months. The Government will
begin rolling these out in a phased way, prioritising our NHS and care staff,
where there is a clear value in knowing who has had the virus.
The Government will continue to do all it can to
work to ensure our NHS staff are protected and supported as they carry out
their lifesaving work. On issues such as sick pay, we have made Statutory Sick
Pay (SSP) available for people with Covid-19 symptoms available from day one of
their illness (it was available after four days previously) and ensured
stronger welfare support for people who might not be eligible for SSP. The
Chief Executive of NHS England has already written to senior NHS leaders to
make clear that staff should be offered NHS-reimbursed hotel accommodation so
they can continue to work if they are affected by PHE’s 14 day household
isolation policy. Many local businesses across the country have also been
offering accommodation free of charge to all NHS and care workers that need it.
Additionally, if any NHS staff or social care
workers sadly lose their life to Covid-19, their families will qualify for
death in service benefits. Resident families without leave to remain who sadly
lose a loved one working within NHS or social care will be granted indefinite
leave to remain, free of charge. Every death is a tragedy and very sadly, some
NHS staff and social care workers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the
pursuit of saving the lives of others. This is being implemented immediately, and
retrospectively, to ensure no bereaved families will be forced from their home
and will be able to access significant financial assistance during a very
challenging time.
This outbreak reminds us of the huge debt of
gratitude we all owe the brilliant NHS and care staff working in this country,
and I can assure you that the Government will continue to ensure they are
supported.
Thanks once again for raising this with me, and as
ever, if anyone living within the St Austell and Newquay constituency is experiencing
any difficulty with the above issues, or any other matters, please don’t
hesitate to get in touch with me and my team. You can find contact details on
my website – www.stevedouble.org.uk
