GPs are running out of lateral flow Covid tests (LFTs), despite the Government asking the public to leave them for NHS staff and vulnerable patients.
The Government told the public that free LFTs would be available until the end of this month, but the ordering website now says that ‘most tests are now needed for people at higher risk’, adding that ‘some people still need tests to stay safe, like NHS staff’.
Despite the U-turn, Management in Practice’s sister title Pulse understands many GPs are now struggling to get hold of tests, with those trying to order tests this week being informed that ‘there are no more home delivery slots for these tests at this time’.
Nottingham GP Dr Shan Hussain told Pulse his practice has run out of LFTs and had no choice but to pay for them out of their own pocket.
He couldn’t get any through the Government website so he ordered some online for £24.55 for 10.
He said: ‘We have no choice but to buy them now.’
Gateshead GP Dr Becky Haines, who has also run out of LFT tests, told Pulse: ‘I don’t quite know what I’m going to do.’
Mid Mersey LMC vice chair Dr Samir Shah told Pulse: ‘We’ve been individually stockpiling but you can’t get any for home delivery now either so it won’t be long before we have to start buying them.’
He added: ‘They know that I’m a GP on the ordering system, but it says “sorry, no home deliveries”. And that was about three days ago.’
Chief executive of Lancashire and Cumbria consortium of LMCs Dr Peter Higgins told Pulse it is ‘not at all’ fair that GPs are having to pay for tests.
He said that he would advise GPs forced to buy tests to ‘invoice their CCG’.
Mr Higgins said: ‘It’s crazy. I don’t know what they’re doing, but it’s less than helpful.’
He added: ‘There needs to be a very clear plan to keep GPs and their staff at work and it needs to be seen as an integral part of the NHS that needs supporting.’
‘Extremely concerned’
It comes after the IGPM said it was ‘extremely concerned’ about the availability of test kits on Thursday (24 March), as their members were unable to access tests.
‘It is apparent from local data that infection rates are again increasing; our teams are dealing with more patients with symptoms and yet at the same time we are told that testing kits will come with a charge,’ it said in a statement.
‘It is impossible, therefore, for us to impose regular testing. As a result, patients, who are often extremely vulnerable, will be put at risk.’
The IGPM added that staff could leave out of ‘fear for their health,’ which would be ‘further compounding the staffing crisis we face in general practice’, and asked for guidance to confirm the expectation on employers to maintain staff safety in light of these challenges.
Staff testing under review
NHS England last month said continued staff Covid testing beyond 1 April was ‘under review’ and that it would write ‘in the coming weeks’ with detail on testing protocols for staff and patients.
However, no such advice has been forthcoming and GP practices remain in the dark about whether they should continue twice-weekly asymptomatic testing from 1 April – and if so, whether doctors and staff will have to fund this out of their own pockets.
The BMA has warned that the health protection measure must not be scrapped, however NHS England board papers released yesterday indicated that no conclusion had been reached concerning funding for continued testing.
One briefing document to the board said: ‘We are currently finalising our financial strategy and arrangements with the [Department of Health and Social Care] ahead of the financial year.
‘This includes a request to identify several hundred million pounds to contribute to the costs of the continued testing regime set out in the Government’s Living with Covid strategy.
‘This is in addition to the other financial risks we face, including increased price inflation.’
The Living with Covid strategy, published in late February, had placed emphasis on the high cost of the testing regime throughout the pandemic, saying this would now have to be reduced, but did not mention what would happen to testing for healthcare workers.
It is not the first time GPs have struggled to get hold of tests, with NHS England telling practices in January that they could access contingency supplies.
It comes amid a huge rise in Covid case numbers and hospitalisations in recent weeks – with NHS England warning that it is jeopardising the elective recovery plan – and as the majority of GPs in England surveyed by Pulse think Covid restrictions were removed too soon.
The UK Health Security Agency did not respond to a Pulse request for comment.
A version of this story was initially published on our sister title Pulse.
