Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to increase the number of people tested for flu during the 2021-22 winter season.

The diagnosis of influenza is generally made using clinical symptoms in primary care settings. Diagnosis of influenza can only be confirmed by laboratory testing. Rapid testing should be undertaken in all people with complicated influenza, which often takes place in hospital. The UK Health Security Agency is exploring options to pilot increased testing for influenza for certain cases as an extension of the current routine community surveillance for COVID-19.