GPs are running out of lateral flow tests (LFTs) despite calls for the public to prioritise NHS staff and vulnerable patients, a new exclusive by Pulse reveals.
GPs remain eligible for free LFT and PCR tests after the 1 April cut-off for free public access to tests.
But many GPs are struggling to get hold of tests with many GPs reporting the error message ‘there are no more home delivery slots for these tests at this time’, Pulse reports.
Mid Mersey LMC vice chair Dr Samir Shah told a reporter: ‘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.’
Chief executive of Lancashire and Cumbria consortium of LMCs Dr Peter Higgins told Pulse he would advise GPs forced to buy tests to ‘invoice their CCG’.
GPs have received no official advice on whether or not NHS staff should continue twice-weekly testing, even without symptoms.
The shortages come as practices across the country have switched to urgent care only following staff off sick with Covid-19, Pulse reports:
- Dr Cha Calisir, a GP in Hertfordshire where NASGP currently runs a regional partnership, said she was down five doctors last week.
- Dr Dave Triska, a partner in Surrey, said half his GP workforce was off due to Covid on the day reporters rang. NASGP also runs a regional partnership in nearby Frimley.
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chair, writes: “A unique feature of working as a locum is that we work between different premises across towns and cities, carrying with it the potential for an increased risk of spreading Covid-19, so we very much understand the importance of regular testing.
“Should it come to us needing to purchase test kits over the counter due to lack of free kits for NHS staff, there is no mechanism yet to reimburse locums.
“Hopefully the supply issues will be resolved soon, otherwise this is an expense that we should raise with our accountants for end of year tax and income calculations. Meanwhile our advice remains to continue testing twice-weekly.”
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