Care homes across Preston to receive funding which will support their Covid testing activities

The entrance to the Vernon Street coronavirus testing centre Pic: Blog Preston — Covid testing is important

Care homes across Preston and Lancashire are set to receive funding which will help support them with their Covid-19 testing activities.

The government is providing more than £4.1m to Lancashire from its Adult Social Care Rapid Test Fund.

Lancashire County Council is working with providers to ensure they receive their share of the funding,

The grant can fund measures including training and recruitment for staff involved with testing, the creation of separate test areas at homes, and the costs for disposal of used tests and testing equipment.

The county council has written to providers to make them aware of the grant and the conditions they must meet to apply for their share of the funding.

It has offered them the opportunity to discuss the scheme at its fortnightly Care Provider Webinar.

County Councillor Graham Gooch, cabinet member for adult services, said: “Lancashire’s care homes continue to do a tremendous job to try and keep residents and care staff safe in very difficult circumstances.

“They ensure frontline staff and residents are tested regularly to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in our community.

“However, there are additional costs from increased rapid testing such as staff training, the cost of adapting buildings to create test areas and disposal of old tests and test equipment.

“We welcome this much needed government funding and have contacted homes to advise them how to access their share of the funding.

“This is part of a range of measures to support care providers throughout the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, including our own financial assistance scheme, provision of personal protective equipment and by administering the Government’s Infection Control Grant for Lancashire.”

For more information about the Governments Adult Social Care Rapid Test Fund , visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-rapid-testing-fund

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