Coronavirus: Care home testing a ‘major breakthrough’

Health Minister Robin Swann announced the universal testing plans today.

He said that by next month care home residents and staff will be tested for coronavirus, regardless of whether there has been a confirmed outbreak at the home.

Right now, tests are available to all residents and staff in a care home only after an outbreak has already been reported.

The new programme means staff will be tested every two weeks.

The announcement by Mr Swann came after several weeks of pressure from the Older People’s Commissioner Eddie Lynch, from trade unions and from several political parties.

In April, the News Letter invited each of the five parties in the Northern Ireland Executive to state whether they would support Mr Lynch’s calls.

At that time, all five parties said that they were in support of increased testing but the SDLP, Alliance Party and DUP gave explicit backing to “full testing” in care homes.

Sinn Fein vice president and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill later clarified her party’s view by calling publicly for universal testing last week.

And in the health minister’s announcement today, former UUP leader Mr Swann said it has “always been my intention to over-deliver rather than to over-promise”.

He said his announcement had come on the back of “detailed planning and preparatory work”.

Mr Swann added: “Testing right across the care home sector is easier to demand than to deliver.”

Mr Lynch described the move as a “major breakthrough”.

“It is vital that every effort is made to make sure this testing is rolled out as quickly as possible to try to address the genuine fears of residents, family members and care workers at this difficult time,” the commissioner added.

“Testing is one of a number of key tools needed to protect the most vulnerable residents in our care homes.

“I have been inundated with queries and requests for help from families and residents themselves asking for tests and have continued to push hard on this issue.

“My role is to work hard to ensure these older people’s voices are heard and that all measures possible are taken to protect them.”

The news has also been welcomed by care home staff.

Michelle Costello, who works at Deanfield nursing home in Londonderry, said: “This is good news. We don’t have anyone with any symptoms – either staff or residents – and we have been doing everything we can to try and keep the residents safe.”

She added: “The tests will help give us peace of mind to know that we aren’t bringing it in with us, or bringing it home to our families.”

There are 484 registered care homes in Northern Ireland.

Coronavirus outbreaks have been confirmed in 71 care homes, with a further 33 suspected but not confirmed.

The latest figures available, which cover the period up to May 8, show that 269 people have died due to the virus in care homes.

The Department of Health said that it aims to have tested all residents “by next month”, with a “rolling programme” for staff.