Covid-19 Update Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department of Health and Social Care
Chi Onwurah
Main Page: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West)Department Debates - View all Chi Onwurah's debates with the Department of Health and Social Care
(3 years, 10 months ago)
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Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab) [V]
One year after the UK’s first covid patient arrived at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, I know the Secretary of State will want to join me in congratulating Newcastle’s NHS staff, GPs, public health professionals, volunteers and all those leading the way in vaccinating so many, so quickly. Will he agree to reward such success by handing more resources and control over the failing test and trace programme to local public health teams, who are closer to communities and can better understand local transmission chains, which we need to do if we are to get the virus under control?
Matt Hancock
Yes, absolutely. Local authorities are critical to this, and we are working with directors of public health as part of the effort.