Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to support health and social care staff who have been asked to isolate and do not wish to participate in Test and release programmes.

Fully vaccinated health and social care staff who have to self-isolate, may be able to leave self-isolation to attend work in exceptional circumstances where, in the judgement of a nominated health professional, there would otherwise be a significant risk to the health or safety of patients or service users. In these exceptional circumstances, they should only attend work after having a negative polymerase chain reaction test and daily lateral flow antigen tests. Where staff choose to self-isolate rather than take part in these arrangements, they will still be able to access financial support, if they are eligible and relevant practical support.