CCL offers Covid-19 testing for care homes again as government renews contract
A contract that enabled Cambridge Clinical Laboratories (CCL) to provide Covid-19 testing for care homes in the region has finally been renewed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
The Milton business is part of a network of private laboratories that negotiated a testing contract with the government in May.
From June until early July, CCL was offering up to 1,000 tests a day for care homes in and around Cambridge and Peterborough, including for Cambridge Manor, Askham Village Community and Peteborough Care, helping to pick up asymptomatic cases that could have led to transmission of the virus.
But, as the Cambridge Independent revealed in July, the contract was not renewed and care home managers were left fearful of how they would access efficient testing.
More than a month later, the lab has been able to resume its work with care homes after the DHSC finally renewed the contract.
CCL chief executive Tony Cooke told the Cambridge Independent: “We drop off the testing kits. We pick them up when they’re ready and 24 hours later they get the results.
“We’ve got about 20 care homes signed up again.”
He believes that the challenges reported by care homes had prompted the reinstatement of the contract.
“The health secretary, Matt Hancock, clearly stated at the beginning of July that they were going to offer testing to all care homes, and that hasn’t happened, so now they have renewed our contract,” said Tony.
“If a care home wants it done through the government, they go on to a portal and enter their Care Quality Commission number and ask for test kits and do self-testing. But I’ve heard that care homes have not had kits sent to them, or not always had results back.
“We operate under the same conditions as the government testing, so we can test care home workers once a week and residents once a month.
“That’s because of vulnerability. Residents are not going anywhere, so they should be protected, whereas staff are going in and out.
“If anyone is symptomatic, they can get tested straight away, but we’re doing proactive testing to prevent any spread. What we’re really looking for anyone who is asymptomatic, which test and trace doesn’t look for.”
The contract has been renewed initially for four weeks, although the DHSC has indicated this could be extended.
Riet Jones, manager at Cambridge Manor Care Home, said: “We are absolutely delighted that CCL is able to support the homes in Cambridge again and hope that this will continue to be the case. Again we can request collections on a daily basis, which with a changing workforce is key to the successful testing regime.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The government has built a robust and efficient testing programme at record pace, working with a range of public and private sector organisations, and we will continue to ensure that anyone who needs a test can access one.
“Any care home resident or member of staff with symptoms can immediately access a free test and we are issuing at least 50,000 tests a day to care homes across the country.”
Care homes interested in using CCL’s service can contact 01223 395 450 or info@camclinlabs.co.uk for more information.
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June 2020: CCL offers 500 Covid-19 tests a day for care homes in Cambridge region
