A care home in Cambridge is facing severe delays in receiving Coronavirus testing kits for their staff and residents – and Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner says it is not good enough. 

Staff say the problems started in mid July when Cambridge Manor was instructed to stop using the local and efficient Cambridge Clinical Laboratories and use the “gov. portal” instead.

Previously carers and residents coming into the home had been tested weekly without any hitch but since the new regime began staff have been waiting for three weeks without a test.

Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner has demanded that the Government urgently explain the delays and sort out the problem.

He says: “It is not good enough. We know that very vulnerable people live in care homes and that’s why the Government need to get a grip and get testing sorted. The sad thing is we risk going backwards rather than forwards here. By insisting on using centralised systems, the Government undermines good work being done locally. That is completely unfair on staff, residents and their families, with relatives still stopped from seeing loved ones indoors.”

Manager, Riet Jones says she does not feel it wise to open up the care home any further to relatives until testing has resumed weekly for staff.